Serpa Dam

Category: Civil Architecture > Dam

District: Beja > Serpa > Serpa > Salvador e Santa Maria

Location

The Serpa Dam is strategically located in the eponymous municipality, in the heart of Alentejo. It stands over the Ribeira do Enxoé (Enxoé Stream), in an area encompassing the urban zones of Salvador and Santa Maria, within the town of Serpa itself. Its proximity to the town allows for easy access for those exploring the region, offering a point of interest that integrates into the local landscape.

From the dam, one can observe a panoramic view of the Alentejo hills, with their characteristic gentle undulations, and the tranquil environment provided by the stream, inviting a moment of pause and contemplation of the surrounding nature.

An Essential Construction

The Serpa Dam was conceived to serve a fundamental purpose in the region. Designed in 1995 and operational since 1998, this infrastructure was built for water supply, playing a crucial role for the community and local agriculture. Its relevance also extends to its integration into the vast Alqueva Global Irrigation System, one of Europe's largest hydraulic development projects.

This system is vital for the region's sustainability, ensuring the water resources needed for agricultural activities and daily life, underscoring the dam's importance in the context of Alentejo's development.

Engineering Characteristics

The Serpa Dam is a remarkable example of engineering, classified as an embankment dam. Its construction involved the compaction of large volumes of earth, giving it a robust structure integrated into the natural landscape.

The dam rises to a height of 23 meters above its foundations, extending for a crest length of 415 meters. Its total structure encompasses a considerable volume of 240,000 cubic meters, demonstrating the scale of the work and the solidity of its design.

The Grandeur of the Reservoir

Beyond its imposing structure, the Serpa Dam is defined by the vast reservoir it forms, where the water from the Ribeira do Enxoé (Enxoé Stream) accumulates. This body of water has a total storage capacity of approximately 10.4 million cubic meters, occupying an inundated surface area of about 2.05 square kilometers when it reaches its maximum level.

The reservoir creates a serene and expansive environment, where the Alentejo sky is reflected, providing an inviting view. Its size not only ensures the dam's functionality but also enriches the landscape, becoming a point for nature observation and a place of tranquility by the water.

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