Belver Dam

Category: Civil Architecture > Dam

District: Santarém > Mação > Ortiga

Location

The Belver Dam is located in the town of Ortiga, within the municipality of Mação. Its position on the Tagus River is unique, situated in an area where the landscapes of Beira Baixa, Alentejo, and Ribatejo converge. This strategic location offers visitors expansive views of the reservoir's vast expanse of water and the surrounding natural environment, characterized by the serene beauty of the Tagus valley.

Structure and Integration into the Landscape

Completed in 1952, the Belver Dam is a significant example of the engineering of its time. The structure rises thirty meters above the natural ground and extends for a crest of over three hundred and twenty-seven and a half meters. Its dimensions make it an imposing element in the Tagus landscape, shaping the river's profile and creating a reservoir that integrates harmoniously with the surrounding nature. It is a work that invites observation of the power of nature and the human capacity to shape it.

A Legacy on the Tagus River

Beyond its function and scale, the Belver Dam is recognized for an aspect of particular environmental and historical importance. It was at this site that the first fish pass in Portugal was built in 1947, an early testament to the concern for the migration of fluvial species. Although the original configuration of this pass has been altered over time, its initial existence marks a turning point in the management of riparian ecosystems. Furthermore, the construction of the dam led to the submersion of a section of the old Tagus towpath wall, a silent memory of the past of fluvial navigation and commerce that now rests beneath the reservoir's waters.

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