Abrilongo Dam

Category: Civil Architecture > Dam

District: Portalegre > Campo Maior > Nossa Senhora da Graça dos Degolados

Location

The Abrilongo Dam is located next to the village of Nossa Senhora da Graça dos Degolados, in the municipality of Campo Maior. It is built over the Abrilongo Stream.

Its vast reservoir stretches across the landscape, creating a significant body of water in the rural surroundings of this Alentejo region.

Origin and Purpose

This dam was a project developed in the 1990s, with its construction completed and entering operation in the year 2000.

Its main function is to store water for agricultural purposes, contributing to the irrigation of vast areas in the region.

Dam Structure

The structure of the Abrilongo Dam is of the earth-fill type, built essentially with zoned earth. It is an engineering work of remarkable dimensions in the landscape.

It rises about 27 meters above the natural ground level, and its crest extends for more than a kilometer, reaching 1063 meters in length.

The Vastness of the Reservoir

Behind the dam wall, an extensive body of water, the reservoir, is formed, covering a considerable area of the landscape, approximately 2.95 square kilometers.

This large water reserve has a total storage capacity of approximately 19.9 million cubic meters, creating a vast and serene landscape.

Landscape and Environment

The presence of the Abrilongo Dam reservoir transforms the natural surroundings, introducing a large body of water that integrates into the typical Alentejo environment.

This body of water attracts various animal species, particularly birds, and offers an interesting setting for those seeking tranquility and contact with nature.

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