AMEIXIAL
A aldeia de Ameixial
Ameixial is located in Serra do Caldeirão, on the northern border of the Loulé municipality, on the border with Almodôvar, Alentejo. It is the parish seat, with a total area of around 121.35 km2. Ameixial contains numerous hamlets, such as Besteiros, Vermelhos, Revezes, Corte João Marques, Corte de Ouro, among others. Most of the region gets their water from the hydrographic basin of the Ribeira do Vascão, one of the main watersources in the Algarve, which is famous for its length and width, as well as for all the natural and cultural heritage associated with it. The land is mainly occupied by forest, with various areas of agriculture - especially in the river valleys - with cork-oaks and holm-oaks predominating. As a result, there is also an economic activity directly associated with the exploitation of cork, and another indirect, namely through the production of medronho (arbutus-berry) firewater and honey. Grazing is another activity present in this region, mainly of goat-algarve.