Roxo Dam

Category: Civil Architecture > Dam

District: Beja > Aljustrel > Ervidel > Chaparral

Location

The Roxo Dam is situated in the heart of the Lower Alentejo, a region marked by vast plains and a seemingly endless horizon. It is located near the village of Ervidel, in the municipality of Aljustrel, in a quiet area known as Chaparral. Its position offers wide views over the Alentejo landscape, characterized by its serenity and the unique light that bathes the region.

A Vital Resource for the Region

The Roxo Dam was built between 1963 and 1967 over the Ribeira do Roxo, a tributary of the Sado River. Since its inauguration, the dam has played a fundamental role in the life of the Alentejo, serving as a pillar for agricultural activity. Its waters irrigate extensive areas, enabling crops that would otherwise be unfeasible in this Mediterranean climate zone. This hydraulic undertaking has contributed significantly to the socio-economic transformation of the municipalities it serves, also supplying water for the populations of Aljustrel and Beja.

The Imposing Structure

The Roxo Dam is a remarkable engineering feat, with a mixed structure that combines concrete in the deepest part of the valley and earthen embankment on the right bank of the stream. It rises to a considerable height, impressing with its solidity and the size of the reservoir it creates. This vast expanse of water, with a floodable area that can reach approximately 1378 hectares, is a mirror that reflects the Alentejo sky and attests to the grandeur of this water resource.

The Alentejo's Water Mirror

In addition to its essential function, the Roxo Dam reservoir offers a landscape of great beauty and an environment of unique calm. The vast water surface, flanked by the region's typical vegetation, provides a setting inviting contemplation and contact with nature. The tranquility emanating from the site is an invitation to moments of relaxation, allowing one to observe the aquatic birds that gather there and appreciate the vastness of the Alentejo in all its fullness.

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