title: Morro de Areia Nature Reserve
text: # Morro de Areia Nature Reserve
  
  Morro de Areia Nature Reserve (Portuguese: Reserva Natural do Morro de Areia) is a nature reserve covering the southwestern coast of the island of Boa Vista in Cape Verde. It takes its name from the hill Morro de Areia, 167 m (548 ft) elevation. The natural reserve covers 21.31 $km^2$ of land area, and stretches along the coast from the Praia de Chaves in the north to the Praia de Santa Monica in the south. The reserve includes a 300 m wide marine protection zone, an additional 4.36 $km^2.$
  
  ## Fauna
  
  The nature reserve was established in order to protect the sand dynamics of the dunes, and endemic wildlife species including red-billed tropicbird, osprey, turtles, nurse shark, and numerous invertebrates.
  
  