District of Praia Seca - Araruama - RJ

Hello channel friends.
We begin our visit to our new destination in the District of Praia Seca in the municipality of Araruama, located in the Lagos Region, and which is part of the Restinga de Massambaba. Praia Seca extends over an extensive sandy strip between Lagoa de Araruama and the Atlantic Ocean and is intersected by Lagoa Vermelha, Lagoa de Pitanguinha and Lagoa da Pernambuca, in addition to some marshes and many beaches. Because of its extremely beautiful beaches, the city of Araruama nicknamed the district "The Brazilian Cancun". Want to know more? Come with me.
Its location is in the sandbank of Massambaba, between Lagoa de Araruama and the Atlantic Ocean, which means that the region has beaches and a lagoon in the same place, each on one side. It is considered by its residents and visitors as "a natural paradise. The sandbank formation, which occurred thousands of years ago, dammed up sea water forming the Lagoas de Araruama. The district of Praia Seca is fully included in the Environmental Preservation Area (APA ) of Massambaba, a conservation unit for sandbank vegetation and the Atlantic Forest biome, rich in biodiversity, with characteristic flora, fauna and vegetation. There are 10 beaches in Praia Seca, including all four ocean beaches in Araruama: Praia do Dentinho, Praia do Raposo, Praia do Vargas, Praia da Pernambuca (oceanic); and Praia do Perauaçu, Praia do Villagio D'Itália, Praia do Tomé, Praia dos Nobres, Praia das Virtudes and Praia do Pneu, these on the edge of Lagoa de Araruama.
When the Portuguese settlers arrived here, they found a vast area covered with salt between the lagoon and the ocean and mistakenly concluded that in this region the sea had dried up. That's why the name of this place became Praia Seca and lasts until today. Historically, there was uncertainty about which municipality should administer Praia Seca, and the district was disputed between Arraial do Cabo, Araruama and Saquarema. The governor of the state of Rio de Janeiro at the time, Marcello Alencar decided by state law that the district would definitely be under the care of the municipality of Araruama, since the city did not have an outlet to the sea. Praia Seca has hosted several sporting events, such as windsurfing and canoeing, attracting countless tourists to the region. The economy of the Praia Seca district is based mainly on tourism, as it receives thousands of visitors on its extensive and beautiful ocean and lagoon beaches. But the district's economy is also based on fishing, trade and mainly salt extraction, which was very abundant in this region. It houses the last artisanal salt pans in the Lagos Region, witnesses of a period of economic opulence on the national scene. Salt production around Lagoa de Araruama was the mainspring of the local economy for decades, going into decline at the end of the 20th century. Visiting the Salineiro Park in Praia Seca is an incredible experience, a journey through time in which it is possible to experience the extraction of salt powered by human, wind and solar energy.
There are many options for regional cuisine, both in the beach kiosks and in the restaurants. Offers range from simple fried fish with salad to elaborate seafood stews, with varied menus and affordable prices. Thus, Praia Seca has been establishing itself as the new gastronomic center of Araruama, attracting visitors from all over the Lagos Region. To make the trip even more fun, a ferry boat connects the Praia Seca Center to the city center through the water mirror of Lagoa de Araruama. The crossing time is approximately 20 minutes with a contemplative and calming view.