Alqueva Dam

Alqueva Dam

• The Alqueva Dam is in Alentejo on Guadiana river which is shared with Spain. The direct influence of this Enterprise includes 19 councils, about an area of 600 thousands of hectares. It allows the irrigation of the whole area, what contributes for a new agriculture and to the tourist development.

Forwad

Alqueva Dam • Maximum height: 96 metres • Volume: 4150 hm3, 3150hm3 it’s useful

capacity. For this construction a million of cubical metres of cement was necessary.

Components• 1-    Unloaders of

Surface • 2- Hydroelectric-

power Central office

• 3- Unloaders of Deep Way

• 4- Alqueva Lagoon• 5- Pedrogão

Lagoon

Hydroelectric-power central office of Alqueva

• Equipped with two bombs /turbines with power of 120 mW each (its production in average year would be the double of the energy necessary to supply the councils of Beja and Évora, 350 Gwh/year).

Objectives     • Constitution of one strategically reserve of

water; • Guarantee of regular water supplying; • Gradual changing of the traditional model

of agriculture in Alentejo ;• Reinforcement of the capacity installed for

the production of electric energy;• Creation of tourist potentialities;• Fight against the human desertification; • Organized intervention of the of the

Environmental and Patrimonial authorities ; • Enliving of the regional job market .

History

1968: The Portuguese - Spanish Covenant is celebrated for the use of the international rivers concerning

Alqueva.

1957: First references to Alqueva Enterprise, through the Alentejo

Irrigation Plan.

1976-1979: First works in Alqueva. Since then the enterprise passed

through many changings. 1993: It is finally decided that the project has to go on. In this exactly year, it was created the Installing Commission of the Company of Alqueva, later the EDIA’s company.

1995: The works restart in Alqueva. 1996: The Government decides to go on with the Alqueva’s Project, with or without communitarian

financing.

1997: The PEDIZA is approved and the involvement of E.U. in the project

is established .

2002: The works finish. On 8th February the

floodgates are closed...

Curiosities

What is EDIA?

• EDIA is a anonymous society of public capitals, exclusively responsible for the conception, execution, construction and exploration of the Enterprise of Multiple Ends of Alqueva.

Does Alqueva affect the environment?

• The Alqueva will cause environmental changings, with positive impacts which result from the existence of a water plan with 250 km2.

Will Alqueva be the biggest Portuguese dam?

• No. The Alqueva dam will be the seventh biggest dam in height, but it will possible to create the greatest Portuguese lagoon, in capacity and area.

In drought periods will Alqueva guarantee

the water supply? • In a full time, the Alqueva Lagoon

guarantees all the water system (public supplying, agriculture, industries and energy production) for at least 3 consecutive years of drought.

Is there enough water to fill in the lagoon?

• Yes, there is. The average abundance of the Guadiana river guarantees the Alqueva Lagoon wadding in two years. However, if the Winters will be rainy, it can be full in some months. In drought periods it might be full in a year or two.

Why is Alqueva known as "Mother of

Water"? • Because the water that will be

stored guarantees all its distribution for the system.

Pictures• Here you will be able to find a set of pictures, not

only of the Alqueva Dam, but also others that in some way are related to this Enterprise!

Mafalda S. 8º3 nº 11