Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DAM STATISTICS
The 250-sq-km Alqueva reservoir, Europe's largest and created by an enormous dam (Barragem do Alqueva) near
Moura, is undeniably beautiful. But there is something strange and otherworldly about it: it's not so much a lake
as drowned land, with islands poking out of the water and roads disappearing into nowhere.
It is hoped that this huge water mass will save the arid Alentejo. One of Portugal's major agricultural regions,
and its poorest, it employs a host of irrigation schemes and reservoirs to bring water to the soil, as well as hydro-
electricity that supplies the national grid. The most important source of water is the Rio Guadiana, which rises in
Spain and flows through the Alentejo. Various agreements with Spain were meant to ensure that its waters were
fairly shared. In 1998 the Portuguese finally started work on the giant dam. It flooded 2000 properties, including
those of the village of Luz (rebuilt elsewhere but strangely antiseptic). The project cost €1.7 billion.
Critics say that the dam may not even fulfil its remit, that irrigation schemes are vastly expensive, and that it is
an ecological disaster (many birds and animals had to be moved as part of the initial agreement). Ancient rock art
was enveloped in the waters and menhirs were moved elsewhere.
Completed in 2002, the dam created an 83km-long reservoir, with a perimeter of 1100km. Only if you have
time, and your own transport (no buses head here), it's worth driving to the dam wall for a look.
A Centro de In-
formaćão
( 10am-7pm Dec-Feb, 9.30am-6.30pm Jun-Aug, closed 1-2.30pm) provides technical (read: public
relations) information.
A fun way to see the dam is out on a boat; head to the marina to see what day trips are on offer. Alternatively
there are some decent organised trips from Monsaraz (
Click here
).
TOP OF CHAPTER
Moura
POP 8500
This pleasant working-class city, a flattish fortified town, has an ageing castle, graceful
buildings and a well-preserved Moorish neighbourhood. Well placed near water sources
and rich in ore, Moura has been a farming and mining centre and a fashionable spa in pre-
vious incarnations. More recent developments? The world's largest solar-power genera-
tion plant is located nearby and it's the nearest large town to the Barragem do Alqueva,
15km to the north.
The Moors' 500-year occupation came to an end in 1232 after a Christian invasion.
Despite the reconquest, Moorish presence in the city remained strong - they only aban-
doned their quarter in 1496 (after Dom Manuel's convert-or-leave edict).
The town's name comes from a legend related to the 13th-century takeover. Moorish
resident Moura Salúquiyya opened the town gates to Christians disguised as Muslims.
They sacked the town, and poor Moura flung herself from a tower.
