Page 119 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sardinia

SARDINIA AREA B Y AREA  117

THE WESTERN

COAST

Each year thousands of flamingoes choose the marshes and
wet lands of western Sardinia as their favoured place for over­
wintering, creating clouds of pink against the vegetation of the
maquis. The coastline is vulnerable to the cool mistral, and years
of strong winds have sculpted massive dunes along the shore.
The natural harbours and fer tile land in this At the beginning of the 20th century, this
part of Sardinia have attracted foreign ships marshland was infested with malaria-
for centuries. The Phoenicians discovered transmitting mosquitoes but, thanks to
the safe harbours of Sulki and Tharros as land reclamation in the 1930s and the
well as the great commercial potential of Rockefeller-funded anti-malaria campaign,
the obsidian from the slopes of Monte the soil can now be cultivated without
Arci. The Romans and Spaniards also left risk. Today this is one of the most fertile
their mark at Bosa, the latter transforming areas in Sardinia, producing spring
Alghero into a Catalonian town. vegetables for sale to mainland Italy, as
The area around Oristano is one of the well as olives and citrus fruits. Vineyards
largest wetland areas in Europe. As well as cover the land around Oristano and near
freshwater pools and marshy lakes, there the beaches in the Sinis region, yielding
are saltwater lagoons, sandbanks and sand quantities of white Vernaccia wine.
dunes. A combi nation of the waters of the The coastline is lovely – small beaches
Tirso river and the mistral is responsible for and seaside resorts nestle against sand
this particular ecosystem. Over the course dunes shaded by thick pine forests. Some
of centuries massive dunes have formed beaches are made of grains of translucent
at the river mouth, whipped up by the quartz, which suits wild lilies. Some
violent winds from the west, effectively stretches of cliff, wild and rocky, can only
blocking the flow of water out to sea. be reached by boat or after a lengthy trek.

The historic town of Bosa seen from the Temo river
Flamingoes flocking in the shallow lagoons around Oristano

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