Negrelinho Dam

Category: Civil Architecture > Dam

District: Santarém > Abrantes > Mouriscas

Location

The Negrelinho Dam is located in the parish of Mouriscas, municipality of Abrantes, in an area that even inherited its name, the "Negrelinho Dam". It is not a natural basin or a river, but rather an artificial construction, carefully integrated into a valley of the local landscape. Its presence defines a part of the surrounding area, offering a particular perspective on the domain of engineering in a rural environment.

A Legacy of Engineering and Ambition

This remarkable undertaking, inaugurated on June 6, 1993, represents the culmination of a project initiated 16 years earlier, in 1977. What makes the Negrelinho Dam truly unique is its supply system: water is transported through a 7.5-kilometer pipeline, from a spring in Queixoperra, in the neighboring municipality of Mação, using only the force of gravity. This ingenious solution, which crosses different terrains without resorting to any type of energy, was seen by many as a feat. The moment the water arrived, after so many years of waiting, was received with great jubilation by the community, symbolizing a milestone of progress.

The Community's Water Heart

More than a simple infrastructure, the Negrelinho Dam embodies the answer to a deep yearning of the population of Mouriscas. Before its existence, the parish faced significant challenges in accessing water, with rationing periods that conditioned the daily lives of families. With its operation, the dam ensured a continuous and reliable supply. It is from this reservoir that the entire parish of Mouriscas, including localities such as Casal das Mansas, Carvalheiros, Entre Serras, and Lercas, benefits from a vital resource, radically transforming the quality of life of its inhabitants.

A Mirror of Water in the Landscape

The Negrelinho Dam stands out in the landscape for its size and the stillness of its body of water. With an approximate width of 500 meters and a crest length of 730 meters, the dam has a storage capacity that can reach one million cubic meters of water. This vast expanse of water, which harmonizes with the surrounding landscape, offers a tranquil setting. The mirror of water, the result of an engineering project, invites contemplation and appreciation of its serenity, a contrast to the dynamic of its essential purpose for the region.

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