The Alqueva Dam is one of the Alentejo’s great works. Located on the River Guadiana, near the parish of Alqueva, in the municipality of Portel, in the district of Évora. This was completed in 2002 and is considered to be the largest freshwater dam in Europe.
The dam is about 96 meters high and the upper part stretches for about 458 meters. It was named the “Great Lake of Alqueva” and has a water mirror area of around 250 km².
There was a major socio-economic impact with the construction of the dam. It has brought the development of tourism, increased agricultural productivity and local economic growth.
The main purpose of building the dam was to regulate the flow of the Guadiana River. A river that is very irregular throughout the year. Its construction prevents flooding during periods of inundation and guarantees a strategic reserve of water to supply the population during periods of drought.
Another major objective for the construction of the dam was the production of hydroelectric power. In this way, it contributes to the increase in electricity in Portugal.
The Alqueva Dam has also become an important tourist and leisure spot in Portugal. The creation of the “Great Lake of Alqueva” has provided a huge area of fresh water.
In conclusion, the Alqueva Dam is one of the largest and most important engineering projects in Portugal. It provides a number of benefits, such as regulating the flow of the Guadiana River and producing hydroelectric power.
