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Lavra in Matosinhos, Porto, Portugal — Southwestern Europe (Iberian Peninsula)
 

A Recolha do Sargaço
⎯⎯⎯
Harvesting Seaweed

Matosinhos Mar

 
 
A Recolha do Sargaço / Harvesting Seaweed Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, September 2, 2023
1. A Recolha do Sargaço / Harvesting Seaweed Marker
Inscription.  
A apanha do sargaço, um fertilizante abundantemente utilizado pelas populações costeiras que se dedicam à agricultura, assumiu durante séculos relevante importância nos areais de Lavra, devido à facilidade de colheita das algas marinhas bem como a abundancia das mesmas nestas praias. A atividade era exercida pelas sargaceiras, que utilizavam a graveta para recolher as algas e as transportar para o local onde deveriam secar ao sol durante três dias, antes de serem utilizadas, juntamente com o pilado (caranguejo pequeno) para fertilizar os campos agrícolas da freguesia. O facto de ser, desde épocas remotas e por decisão real, um produto livre de pagamento de qualquer tipo de imposto, contribuiu igualmente para a popularidade desta atividade. Nos nossos dias continua a ser praticada e destina-se maioritariamente as indústrias farmacéuticas e de cosméticos.

The harvesting of seaweed for agricultural fertilizer was abundantly practiced by local farmers and was an important activity in the beaches of Lavra for many centuries, due to the ease of harvesting and the seaweed's abundance here. This activity was done by women, the sargaceiras (seaweeders) to collect the seaweed and take it to dry in the sun for three days before being used together with small crabs to fertilize the farmlands in the area. Seaweed has been a tax-free product since remote times, which also contributed to the popularity of this activity. Harvesting is still practiced nowadays, mainly to the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries.
 
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This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: AgricultureWomen.
 
Location. 41° 15.989′ N, 8° 43.605′ W. Marker is in Lavra, Porto, in Matosinhos. It is at the intersection of Avenida da Praia de Angeiras and Rua da Bairro, on the left when traveling north on Avenida da Praia de Angeiras. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Avenida da Praia de Angeiras 740, Lavra, Porto 4455, Portugal. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, in Europe, in the European Union, in Atlantic Europe, on the Iberian Peninsula, in the Schengen Area, and in the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Byzantine Empire, Portuguese colonies, and the Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A Praia dos Pescadores de Angeiras / The Fishermen Beach at Angeiras (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Tanques Romanos para Salga de Feixe / Roman Tanks for Fish Salting (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); A Villa Romana do Fontão / The Roman Villa at Fontão
A Recolha do Sargaço / Harvesting Seaweed Marker - wide view, looking north image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, September 2, 2023
2. A Recolha do Sargaço / Harvesting Seaweed Marker - wide view, looking north
(approx. 1.1 kilometers away); Gravuras da área de S. Paio / S. Paio Engravings (approx. 1.6 kilometers away); Os penedos amoladoiros / Polishing rocks (approx. 1.6 kilometers away); Ruínas de Habitação / Family House (approx. 1.7 kilometers away); O Submarino Alemão U1277 / The German Submarine U1277 (approx. 2 kilometers away); Avro Lancaster III Crash (approx. 2.5 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lavra.
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on September 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 192 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos:   1, 2. submitted on September 2, 2023, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
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Jul. 11, 2026