Praia da Nazaré
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Sue Wolfe
About this spot
Nazaré (nuh zehr) has a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters and is one of the finest beach towns on Portugal’s Costa de Prata (Silver Coast). It is known for its coastline—one of the most dangerous in the world with its high waves.
While the town has transitioned from a fishing village to a tourist destination, there is still lots of character. Cobbled streets are still found along the beachfront and many locals still wear traditional clothing.
Numerous surfing records have been set at Nazaré. Since 2011, the record has been broken 3 times. The record currently stands at 26.2 meters (86 feet). Unfortunately, Brazilian surfer Marcio Freire died in January 2023, while practicing tow-in surfing.
These large waves are created by the Nazaré Canyon. It is the largest underwater canyon in Europe—227 kilometers along the coast reaching a depth of 5,000 meters. The drastic difference in depth between the canyon and the continental shelf help create these monster waves.
While the town has transitioned from a fishing village to a tourist destination, there is still lots of character. Cobbled streets are still found along the beachfront and many locals still wear traditional clothing.
Numerous surfing records have been set at Nazaré. Since 2011, the record has been broken 3 times. The record currently stands at 26.2 meters (86 feet). Unfortunately, Brazilian surfer Marcio Freire died in January 2023, while practicing tow-in surfing.
These large waves are created by the Nazaré Canyon. It is the largest underwater canyon in Europe—227 kilometers along the coast reaching a depth of 5,000 meters. The drastic difference in depth between the canyon and the continental shelf help create these monster waves.
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