Esposende, Marinhas e Gandra

Esposende (Portuguese pronunciation: [ɨʃpɔˈzẽdɨ] ) is a city and a municipality in Braga District in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 34,254, in an area of 95.41 km². The city itself (the parish Esposende, Marinhas e Gandra) had a population of 9,197 in 2001. It gained city status on 2 July 1993. The present Mayor is Fernando Couto Cepa, elected by the Social Democratic Party. The municipal holiday is August 19. It is located on the Portuguese Way of the Camino de Santiago.

The Northern Littoral Natural Park (Portuguese: Parque Natural do Litoral Norte) is one of the thirteen natural parks of Portugal. It encompasses the shores of the Atlantic Ocean in the municipality of Esposende. The park was created to preserve the dunes and the wildlife in the area, mainly birds and fish. The park has the longest and best preserved stretch of Atlantic dunes in northern Portugal. The estuaries of Cávado and Neiva are home to some of the most significant habitats in the park. It has around 240 species of plant. 140 species of birds can be observed in the terrestrial area alone. The estuarine zone is an important area for food and rest during migrations and in winter. It has 19 species and 8 potencial species of mammals.It is an area of intense agricultural activity, namely in masseiras, also called troughs, cultivated fields dug in the sand next to the dunes until very close to the water table, which thus ensure water and protection from the winds to the crops. This coast is one of the traditional places for gathering sargassum, which was collected in June and dried in the sun. Indeed, the sands of the Minho coast were fertilized thanks to the use of seaweed and pilado (small crustacean), for many years the main fertilizers used. The festa dos sargaceiros of Apulia, with their typical costumes, is just one of the many festivities that take place here.

Fort São João Baptista of Esposende, also referred to as São João Baptista Castle and Esposende Fort, is located in the parish of Esposende, Marinhas e Gandra, city and municipality of Esposende, in the district of Braga, in Portugal. A coastal fort, originally built with the role of defending the mouth of the river Cávado.

The Cávado River (Portuguese: rio Cávado; Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈʁiu ˈkavɐðu]) is a river located in northern Portugal. It has its source in Serra do Larouco at an elevation of 1,520 metres (4,990 ft) above sea level. It runs 135 kilometres (84 mi) from Fonte da Pipa, near the triangulation station Larouco, to its mouth into the Atlantic Ocean next to the city of Esposende. It flows through the districts of Vila Real and Braga, in the Cávado Region, and flows near the towns of Vila Verde and Esposende and cities of Braga and Barcelos. Its tributaries are the Homem River, Rabagão River and Saltadouro River.

The Ponte metálica de Fão is a bridge in Portugal at Fão. It is located in Braga District, crossing the Cávado River, on the EN 13 (National Road 13 - Porto-Valença). It connects Fão to Esposende.

Gandra is a former civil parish in the municipality of Esposende, Portugal. In 2013, the parish merged into the new parish Esposende, Marinhas e Gandra. It had a population of 1,323 in 2011. A majority of its inhabitants are Roman Catholic. The main source of income in the town is agriculture.

Apúlia e Fão is a civil parish in the municipality of Esposende, Portugal. It was formed in 2013 by the merger of the former parishes Apúlia and Fão. The population in 2011 was 7,301, in an area of 16.29 km².

Apúlia is a town and a former civil parish in the municipality of Esposende, Portugal. In 2013, the parish merged into the new parish Apúlia e Fão. It has a population of 4,323 inhabitants and a total area of 10.51 km², population density 411.3. It was a town and a municipality until 1834, when it was incorporated into Esposende. Apúlia is known for its dune beaches and Roman-style folk costumes. It may be related to the region of Apulia in Italy, and a possible migration from there during the Roman Empire.

Gemeses is a civil parish in the municipality of Esposende, Portugal. The population in 2011 was 1,078, in an area of 5.57 km2 (2.15 sq mi).

Fonte Boa e Rio Tinto is a civil parish in the municipality of Esposende, Portugal. It was formed in 2013 by the merger of the former parishes Fonte Boa and Rio Tinto. The population in 2011 was 1,944, in an area of 10.38 km².

Vila Cova e Feitos is a civil parish in the municipality of Barcelos, Portugal. It was formed in 2013 by the merger of the former parishes Vila Cova and Feitos. The population in 2011 was 2,564, in an area of 15.73 km².

Barqueiros is a Portuguese freguesia ("civil parish"), located in the municipality of Barcelos. The population in 2011 was 1,957, in an area of 8.07 km². Barqueiros has an annual festival known as Festa da Senhora das Necessidades, which is considered one of the most impressive festivals of the province of Minho, held annually on September 6, 7 and 8.Barqueiros became daily news in Portugal in the 1980s due to mass protests by the citizens of Barqueiros against the mining of Kaolin. This became known in Portugal as the Guerra dos Caulinos. The conflict dragged on through the 1980s until it finally escalated resulting in the shooting death of 20-year-old José Carlos Manhente Simões on June 26, 1989 by GNR forces (Guarda Nacional Republicana).