The pond, to the north-west of Capo Bellavista, is an irregular, circular closed basin covering a surface of 290 hectares and is surrounded by other small basins; a long dune belt separates it from the sea (fig. 1). Its only tributary is the Rio Girasole and it fluctuates between a metre and a metre and a half in depth. It has two outlets to the sea in the eastern part, with modern lavorieri traps for fish and exchange of water.

Fig. 1 - Aerial view of the pond of Tortolì (from http://www.alimages.it/report/2006a/06ago3/agosto3.html).

With lush vegetation, formed mainly be rushes, it is home to several bird species such as cormorants (fig. 2), ducks (fig. 3), gulls and, in winter, the Peregrine Falcon (fig. 4).

Fig. 2 - A specimen of common cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo (from https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalacrocorax_carbo#/media/File:Phalacrocorax_carbo.jpg).

Fig. 3 - A specimen of sea duck, Edredone comune (from https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somateria_mollissima#/media/File:Bristol.zoo.common.eider.arp.jpg).

Fig. 4 - A specimen of Peregrine Falcon (from A.a.V.v. 2007, p. 106).

The “Sulpicius Portus” mentioned in the Geography of Ptolemy (II century A.D.) is believed to be right here.

The pond is currently used for fish farming. Besides adding value to the local fish produce, activities linked to aquaculture, breeding mussels, eels, sea bass, sea bream and prawns are performed here, respecting the environment and maintaining the area's ecological and natural balance.