Cova do Vapor

Cova do Vapor is located at the northern end of the coastal arc that extends to the Cabo Espichel. During the 20th century, the damming along the Tagus reduced the amount of sediment that reaches the river mouth. The history of this place is a story of resistance and adaptation: a summer resort since the 1940s, the village has already withdrawn inland about 500 meters, with the first buildings being moved as the coast retreated. Since the Carnation Revolution in 1974, the first dwellings started to consolidate, with the expression and informal character they still convey today. These lodgings have been followed by the construction of shore protection jetties and varied infrastructures, like sewers, water supply and electricity lines. Despite constant interventions that try to maintain and bolster the coastline, Cova do Vapor is an example of the fragility of seaside settlements, exacerbated by the devastating consequences of climate change. Since 2013 that associations like Margem de Coragem, or EDA, have been developing cultural interventions like the Vapor Library project, and actions aiming to raise environmental awareness and stabilise the dunes.