Caminha, with 5 beaches, and Viana do Castelo, with 11 beaches, all in the coastal area of the Viana do Castelo district (with the exception of Azenhas, in Vilar de Mouros), will have a Blue Flag in the next bathing season. In total, the North has 92 beaches distinguished with the award, in a total of 440 award-winning locations throughout the country and islands.
According to the Blue Flag Program, the beaches awarded are: Azenhas (Vilar de Mouros), Caminha, Forte do Cão, Moledo and Vila Praia de Âncora, in the municipality of Caminha; Afife, Amorosa Norte, Amorosa Sul, Arda, Cabedelo, Carreço, Castelo de Neiva, Ínsua, Luziamar, Norte and Paçô, in the municipality of Viana do Castelo.
The Blue Flag is a symbol of environmental quality awarded annually to river and coastal beaches that apply for the award and that meet a set of criteria. The Blue Flag Program Criteria for beaches are divided into 4 groups: Environmental Information and Education; Water quality; Environmental Management and Equipment; Security and Services.
«The Blue Flag is a symbol of quality that distinguishes the efforts of various entities to make possible the coexistence of local development alongside respect for the environment, raising the level of awareness of citizens in general, and decision-makers in particular, of the need to protect the marine, coastal and lake environment», explains the ‘Blue Flag’ Program.
List of award-winning beaches in the North (here)
Tags: BEACHES Summer Caminha Viana Castelo beaches awarded Blue Flag
 – Between Caminha and Viana do Castelo, there are 16 beaches awarded the Blue Flag){kind=link}