Zambujo Dam

Category: Civil Architecture > Dam

District: Portalegre > Alter do Chão > Alter do Chão

Location

The Zambujo Dam is located in the municipality of Alter do Chão, in an environment that reflects the serenity of the Alentejo landscape. It is built on the bed of the Zambujo Stream, a local watercourse. Its geographical position, away from the urban center, offers wide views over the natural surroundings, characteristic of this area of Alentejo.

A Water Mirror

The dam created a considerable reservoir that extends over an area of about 0.37 square kilometers. This body of water forms a large artificial lake that integrates into the surrounding landscape, creating a natural mirror that reflects the sky and the verdant surroundings. It is a central element of the site, inviting contemplation of the tranquil scenery and appreciation of the reservoir's size.

The Dam Structure

The dam's construction is of the embankment type, meaning it was built essentially with earth and compacted materials. Although its total height reaches 24 meters from the base of the foundation, the most visible part above the natural ground level is around 12 meters. The structure extends for over 200 meters in length at its crest, the passage that allows crossing the top, revealing an engineering work designed for retaining the stream's water.

Context and Function

The Zambujo Dam is a relatively recent addition to the region's landscape. Its project was developed in the late 1980s, and the dam became fully operational in 1994. Its primary function is water supply, thus playing a practical and essential role for the needs of the area it serves, in addition to shaping the surrounding natural environment.

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