Ferrarias Dam

Category: Archaeology > Estrada romana

District: Santarém > Tomar > São Lourenço > Marmelais de Baixo

Location

The Ferrarias Weir is located in the locality of São Lourenço, specifically in the Marmelais de Baixo area, within the municipality of Tomar. Positioned at the city's entrance, alongside the Nabão River, this site offers a pleasant perspective of the riverside surroundings. Its location allows visitors to observe the integration of the hydraulic structure into the urban and natural landscape that characterizes this area.

Legacy Through Time

This weir, an ancient structure on the Nabão River, boasts a history spanning centuries. Although it currently functions as a river flow regulator, it is suggested that its foundations might have older roots, possibly Roman, having been adapted to its current function as a weir around the 16th century. Its existence bears witness to the long interaction between the community and the river, reflecting the importance of water management over time for local activities and the landscape itself.

The Structure and the Water

The Ferrarias Weir is an example of hydraulic engineering, designed to control the flow of the Nabão River. The structure incorporates metal profiles in its central span, which direct the main river flow. Upstream, a stone riprap helps consolidate the construction and allows the river to flow over the weir's surface in a controlled manner. A metal sluice gate, operated by a vertical screw, ensures effective water level regulation, crucial for maintaining the riverbed in this section. Recent interventions were planned to preserve the historical value of the construction, maintaining its essence.

A Riverside Setting

Visiting the Ferrarias Weir offers a moment of contact with the serenity of the riverside environment. Historically one of the most picturesque entrances to the city, the site today offers a well-maintained landscape, resulting from maintenance efforts that contributed to the cleaning of the riverbed and the improvement of the local ecosystem. It is a point where the tranquility of the Nabão meets the presence of a structure with a long history, creating a setting that invites observation and the enjoyment of the surrounding nature.

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