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Praia de Mira, (Portugal)

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In the morning mists the ancient silhouettes of fishing boats appear on the beach

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In the morning mists the ancient silhouettes of fishing boats appear on the beach

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Leaning on long poles, the boats await the arrival of the fishermen and oxen to be lowered into the sea

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Leaning on long poles, the boats await the arrival of the fishermen and oxen to be lowered into the sea

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The fishing boats look like phoenix boats capable of dealing with the big waves that break on the beaches of the coast

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The fishing boats look like phoenix boats capable of dealing with the big waves that break on the beaches of the coast

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The large oar is inserted into an iron pin capable of withstanding the force of the waves when leaving the beach

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The large oar is inserted into an iron pin capable of withstanding the force of the waves when leaving the beach

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The carts with fishing nets arrive

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The carts with fishing nets arrive

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As soon as the ocean mists lift, the oxen arrive from the nearby stables, essential for fishing in Praia de Mira

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As soon as the ocean mists lift, the oxen arrive from the nearby stables, essential for fishing in Praia de Mira

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The fishermen and their families begin to prepare the boats and going out to sea

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The fishermen and their families begin to prepare the boats and going out to sea

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The fishermen and their families begin to prepare the boats and going out to sea

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The fishermen and their families begin to prepare the boats and going out to sea

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The oxen prepare to drag the heavy fishing boats out to sea

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The oxen prepare to drag the heavy fishing boats out to sea

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The fishermen prepare the slipways to help the oxen slide the boats into the sea

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The fishermen prepare the slipways to help the oxen slide the boats into the sea

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The fishermen prepare the slipways to help the oxen slide the boats into the sea

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The fishermen prepare the slipways to help the oxen slide the boats into the sea

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The long pole used by fishermen's families to push the boat into the sea is used

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The long pole used by fishermen's families to push the boat into the sea is used

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The oxen are hitched to the boat with ropes and hooks in order to drag the boat out to sea

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The oxen are hitched to the boat with ropes and hooks in order to drag the boat out to sea

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The oxen are hitched to the boat with ropes and hooks in order to drag the boat out to sea

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The oxen are hitched to the boat with ropes and hooks in order to drag the boat out to sea

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Everything is ready and just waiting for the right wave, the biggest one, to push the boat into the sea

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Everything is ready and just waiting for the right wave, the biggest one, to push the boat into the sea

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The skipper waits for the right wave to start the hauling manoeuvre

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The skipper waits for the right wave to start the hauling manoeuvre

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The right wave is close to arrive, everyone is preparing for the dangerous launch maneuver

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The right wave is close to arrive, everyone is preparing for the dangerous launch maneuver

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The wave is coming and everyone is pushing the boat but without the oxen it would have been impossible to get the boat there

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The wave is coming and everyone is pushing the boat but without the oxen it would have been impossible to get the boat there

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The boat perilously rides up on the wave and nearly capsizes

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The boat perilously rides up on the wave and nearly capsizes

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The skipper maneuvers the oars to try to stabilize the boat

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The skipper maneuvers the oars to try to stabilize the boat

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Six men push on the oars while the young men pull on the ropes or oars to help maneuver

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Six men push on the oars while the young men pull on the ropes or oars to help maneuver

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The boat is at the mercy of the big waves breaking on the beach

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The boat is at the mercy of the big waves breaking on the beach

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The boat is at the mercy of the big waves breaking on the beach

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The boat is at the mercy of the big waves breaking on the beach

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The boat breaks through the waves to try to get out to sea, it's the most dangerous moment

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The boat breaks through the waves to try to get out to sea, it's the most dangerous moment

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The boat breaks through the waves to try to get out to sea, it's the most dangerous moment

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The boat breaks through the waves to try to get out to sea, it's the most dangerous moment

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The boat breaks through the waves to try to get out to sea, it's the most dangerous moment

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The boat breaks through the waves to try to get out to sea, it's the most dangerous moment

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The boat breaks through the waves to try to get out to sea, it's the most dangerous moment

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The boat breaks through the waves to try to get out to sea, it's the most dangerous moment

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With great effort the boat overcomes the front of the waves breaking on the beach

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With great effort the boat overcomes the front of the waves breaking on the beach

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With great effort the boat overcomes the front of the waves breaking on the beach

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With great effort the boat overcomes the front of the waves breaking on the beach

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Start fishing in the calm sea area beyond the crashing waves

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Start fishing in the calm sea area beyond the crashing waves

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At the end of the day, the boat returns to the coast and the oxen prepare to pull it ashore

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At the end of the day, the boat returns to the coast and the oxen prepare to pull it ashore

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At the end of the day, the boat returns to the coast and the oxen prepare to pull it ashore

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At the end of the day, the boat returns to the coast and the oxen prepare to pull it ashore

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The boat with the fishermen takes advantage of the swell to reach the shore

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The boat with the fishermen takes advantage of the swell to reach the shore

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The ropes for the oxen that have to bring the boat to shore are hooked to the rings

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The ropes for the oxen that have to bring the boat to shore are hooked to the rings

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The ropes for the oxen that have to bring the boat to shore are hooked to the rings

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The ropes for the oxen that have to bring the boat to shore are hooked to the rings

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The oxen drag the boat to safety on the beach

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The oxen drag the boat to safety on the beach

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The oxen drag the boat to safety on the beach

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The oxen drag the boat to safety on the beach

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Once the boats have been secured, the oxen drag the nets laden with fish ashore

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Once the boats have been secured, the oxen drag the nets laden with fish ashore

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Once the boats have been secured, the oxen drag the nets laden with fish ashore

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Once the boats have been secured, the oxen drag the nets laden with fish ashore

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Once the boats have been secured, the oxen drag the nets laden with fish ashore

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Once the boats have been secured, the oxen drag the nets laden with fish ashore

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Once the boats have been secured, the oxen together with the whole village drag the nets laden with fish ashore

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Once the boats have been secured, the oxen together with the whole village drag the nets laden with fish ashore

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Once the boats have been secured, the oxen together with the whole village drag the nets laden with fish ashore

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Once the boats have been secured, the oxen together with the whole village drag the nets laden with fish ashore

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Once the boats have been secured, the oxen together with the whole village drag the nets laden with fish ashore

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Once the boats have been secured, the oxen together with the whole village drag the nets laden with fish ashore

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At the end of the day, the fishermen's families share the catch

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At the end of the day, the fishermen's families share the catch

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At the end of the day, the fishermen's families share the catch

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At the end of the day, the fishermen's families share the catch

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Where is Praia de Mira

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Where is Praia de Mira

In the morning mists the ancient silhouettes of fishing boats appear on the beach
In the morning mists the ancient silhouettes of fishing boats appear on the beach
Leaning on long poles, the boats await the arrival of the fishermen and oxen to be lowered into the sea
Leaning on long poles, the boats await the arrival of the fishermen and oxen to be lowered into the sea
The fishing boats look like phoenix boats capable of dealing with the big waves that break on the beaches of the coast
The fishing boats look like phoenix boats capable of dealing with the big waves that break on the beaches of the coast
The large oar is inserted into an iron pin capable of withstanding the force of the waves when leaving the beach
The large oar is inserted into an iron pin capable of withstanding the force of the waves when leaving the beach
The carts with fishing nets arrive
The carts with fishing nets arrive
As soon as the ocean mists lift, the oxen arrive from the nearby stables, essential for fishing in Praia de Mira
As soon as the ocean mists lift, the oxen arrive from the nearby stables, essential for fishing in Praia de Mira
The fishermen and their families begin to prepare the boats and going out to sea
The fishermen and their families begin to prepare the boats and going out to sea
The fishermen and their families begin to prepare the boats and going out to sea
The fishermen and their families begin to prepare the boats and going out to sea
The oxen prepare to drag the heavy fishing boats out to sea
The oxen prepare to drag the heavy fishing boats out to sea
The fishermen prepare the slipways to help the oxen slide the boats into the sea
The fishermen prepare the slipways to help the oxen slide the boats into the sea
The fishermen prepare the slipways to help the oxen slide the boats into the sea
The fishermen prepare the slipways to help the oxen slide the boats into the sea
The long pole used by fishermen's families to push the boat into the sea is used
The long pole used by fishermen's families to push the boat into the sea is used
The oxen are hitched to the boat with ropes and hooks in order to drag the boat out to sea
The oxen are hitched to the boat with ropes and hooks in order to drag the boat out to sea
The oxen are hitched to the boat with ropes and hooks in order to drag the boat out to sea
The oxen are hitched to the boat with ropes and hooks in order to drag the boat out to sea
Everything is ready and just waiting for the right wave, the biggest one, to push the boat into the sea
Everything is ready and just waiting for the right wave, the biggest one, to push the boat into the sea
The skipper waits for the right wave to start the hauling manoeuvre
The skipper waits for the right wave to start the hauling manoeuvre
The right wave is close to arrive, everyone is preparing for the dangerous launch maneuver
The right wave is close to arrive, everyone is preparing for the dangerous launch maneuver
The wave is coming and everyone is pushing the boat but without the oxen it would have been impossible to get the boat there
The wave is coming and everyone is pushing the boat but without the oxen it would have been impossible to get the boat there
The boat perilously rides up on the wave and nearly capsizes
The boat perilously rides up on the wave and nearly capsizes
The skipper maneuvers the oars to try to stabilize the boat
The skipper maneuvers the oars to try to stabilize the boat
Six men push on the oars while the young men pull on the ropes or oars to help maneuver
Six men push on the oars while the young men pull on the ropes or oars to help maneuver
The boat is at the mercy of the big waves breaking on the beach
The boat is at the mercy of the big waves breaking on the beach
The boat is at the mercy of the big waves breaking on the beach
The boat is at the mercy of the big waves breaking on the beach
The boat breaks through the waves to try to get out to sea, it's the most dangerous moment
The boat breaks through the waves to try to get out to sea, it's the most dangerous moment
The boat breaks through the waves to try to get out to sea, it's the most dangerous moment
The boat breaks through the waves to try to get out to sea, it's the most dangerous moment
The boat breaks through the waves to try to get out to sea, it's the most dangerous moment
The boat breaks through the waves to try to get out to sea, it's the most dangerous moment
The boat breaks through the waves to try to get out to sea, it's the most dangerous moment
The boat breaks through the waves to try to get out to sea, it's the most dangerous moment
With great effort the boat overcomes the front of the waves breaking on the beach
With great effort the boat overcomes the front of the waves breaking on the beach
With great effort the boat overcomes the front of the waves breaking on the beach
With great effort the boat overcomes the front of the waves breaking on the beach
Start fishing in the calm sea area beyond the crashing waves
Start fishing in the calm sea area beyond the crashing waves
At the end of the day, the boat returns to the coast and the oxen prepare to pull it ashore
At the end of the day, the boat returns to the coast and the oxen prepare to pull it ashore
At the end of the day, the boat returns to the coast and the oxen prepare to pull it ashore
At the end of the day, the boat returns to the coast and the oxen prepare to pull it ashore
The boat with the fishermen takes advantage of the swell to reach the shore
The boat with the fishermen takes advantage of the swell to reach the shore
The ropes for the oxen that have to bring the boat to shore are hooked to the rings
The ropes for the oxen that have to bring the boat to shore are hooked to the rings
The ropes for the oxen that have to bring the boat to shore are hooked to the rings
The ropes for the oxen that have to bring the boat to shore are hooked to the rings
The oxen drag the boat to safety on the beach
The oxen drag the boat to safety on the beach
The oxen drag the boat to safety on the beach
The oxen drag the boat to safety on the beach
Once the boats have been secured, the oxen drag the nets laden with fish ashore
Once the boats have been secured, the oxen drag the nets laden with fish ashore
Once the boats have been secured, the oxen drag the nets laden with fish ashore
Once the boats have been secured, the oxen drag the nets laden with fish ashore
Once the boats have been secured, the oxen drag the nets laden with fish ashore
Once the boats have been secured, the oxen drag the nets laden with fish ashore
Once the boats have been secured, the oxen together with the whole village drag the nets laden with fish ashore
Once the boats have been secured, the oxen together with the whole village drag the nets laden with fish ashore
Once the boats have been secured, the oxen together with the whole village drag the nets laden with fish ashore
Once the boats have been secured, the oxen together with the whole village drag the nets laden with fish ashore
Once the boats have been secured, the oxen together with the whole village drag the nets laden with fish ashore
Once the boats have been secured, the oxen together with the whole village drag the nets laden with fish ashore
At the end of the day, the fishermen's families share the catch
At the end of the day, the fishermen's families share the catch
At the end of the day, the fishermen's families share the catch
At the end of the day, the fishermen's families share the catch
Where is Praia de Mira
Where is Praia de Mira

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Portugal - Curiosity - Back to index

By: Carlo Piccinelli

ID: 190

Praia de Mira on Google Maps.
On the north Atlantic coast of Portugal, not far from the city of Porto, there is one of the longest beaches in Europe with a development of about 160 kilometers of dunes formed by very fine sand. This stretch of coast has been for centuries one of the most difficult places to go fishing. Big waves crash on the shore and hundreds of treacherous sand dunes separate the sea from the cultivated fields inland. There are no ports and to fish the inhabitants have resorted to a fundamental aid, that of oxen. Only they are able to move the heavy boats across the sand and drag them into the sea. And it's always them who retrieve the boat and pull the nets to shore. No mechanical means is able to carry out this tiring and hard work with the precision and delicacy of the mighty Portuguese oxen. This type of fishing has now disappeared. The coast has become place to small tourist villages and the charm of fishing with oxen is now only a visible memory in the paintings hanging in the Maritime Museum of Lisbon. On some rare occasions in the villages near the town of Praia de Mira some fishing families still organize a trip to the sea but it is only a folkloristic event and nothing more.
Links for more informations:
www.visitportugal.com