lagoa

Lagoa is a Portuguese toponym meaning lagoon, referring to a shallow coastal water body or a water-filled depression that is or was partly enclosed by land. As a place name, Lagoa is used in Portugal and in Portuguese-speaking regions to designate towns, parishes, and municipalities, often reflecting proximity to a lagoon or wetland feature. The name’s prevalence in toponymy mirrors the historical and economic importance of lagoons for settlements, fishing, and agriculture.

Notable example includes Lagoa, a municipality on the island of São Miguel in the Azores, Portugal. In addition to this, the term appears in various localities across the Lusophone world, and is sometimes incorporated into longer names such as Lagoa do … or Lagoa de …. Because Lagoa can refer to multiple places, readers seeking information about a specific Lagoa should consult the dedicated article for that locality.