Pisão Dam

Category: Civil Architecture > Dam

District: Beja > Beja > Trigaches e São Brissos

Location

The Pisão Dam is nestled in the union of the parishes of Trigaches and São Brissos, in the municipality and district of Beja, in the heart of Alentejo. Set within a landscape of vast plains, where tranquility is the dominant note, this work integrates harmoniously into the rural scenery. Its presence shapes the horizon, merging with the timeless beauty of the Alentejo lands and offering a unique perspective on the vast expanse of the region.

The Structure and the Reservoir

The Pisão Dam features an imposing structure, rising to a height of approximately 26 meters. In turn, the reservoir that accompanies it extends over an area of about 158 hectares, holding a volume of water that reaches 11.6 cubic hectometers. This capacity is essential for the management of local water resources, playing a crucial role in both water supply and support for the dynamic agricultural activity that characterizes this area of Alentejo.

A Refuge for Nature

The waters and banks of the Pisão Dam reservoir create a valuable ecosystem, making it a point of particular interest for birdwatching. Throughout the year, a remarkable diversity of aquatic and riparian avifauna can be observed. Among the species that find food or nesting sites here are the mallard, the common coot, and the little crake. In certain periods, the area serves as a temporary shelter for birds such as the black-headed gull, the black-necked grebe, the common snipe, the ringed plover, the olive-tree warbler, and the redshank, providing moments of serene contemplation for nature lovers.

The Landscape Surroundings

The surroundings of the Pisão Dam reveal the untouched beauty of the Alentejo countryside. The trails that follow the reservoir's banks unfold amidst traditional olive groves and cultivated cereal fields, interspersed with patches of denser vegetation. It is common to find clusters of wild olive trees and holm oaks, emblematic species of the local flora, which offer shady refuges and contribute to the scenic richness of the location, inviting a pleasant contact with the natural environment.

Echoes of Antiquity

The area surrounding the Pisão Dam is a repository of vestiges that tell the ancestral story of the region. Near the reservoir, the necropolis of Palhais was identified, a notable archaeological find dating back to the 1st Iron Age. This discovery is a testament to the human presence that populated this territory in remote times, and the region continues to reveal other indications of its rich heritage.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt