Xistopedia

Mountains of water

Mountains of water
nature and leisure
This is a territory where water is queen. It furrowed these mountains and inscribed many of the stunning landscapes we see. It feeds animals, lends its vital force to human agriculture and refreshes their leisure.

The Ceira River rises in the Serra do Açor at an altitude of 1118 m, and flows into the Mondego 100 km later when it reaches Coimbra. There are eleven Aldeias do Xisto within its catchment area.

The Alvoco and then the Alva, although they originate in the Serra da Estrela, are also fed on their left by the Serra do Açor. After meeting at the Três Entradas Bridge, near the Aldeia do Xisto Aldeia das Dez, the Alva will also meet the Mondego near Penacova. There are three Aldeias do Xisto within its catchment area.

After rising at 1900m in the Serra da Estrela, the River Zêzere, now more serene, passes through Belmonte and Covilhã. From here and almost until it flows into the Tagus - in its section called “Fosso do Zêzere” - it is fed, on both sides, by this sea of mountains.

In these valleys, dug out by the waters in a hurry to become streams and rivers, humans have built dams to transform the force of the flow of the waters into electricity.

Near Cambas (Oleiros), between Janeiro de Cima and Álvaro, the Zêzere ceases to be a river and becomes a calm reservoir. If it did not run through a valley from here to Constância, it would be possible to see that all the reservoirs of the 3 dams (Cabril, Bouça and Castelo de Bode) form an immense artificial lake, with more than 5800 hectares. There are ten Aldeias do Xisto within its catchment area.

Sometimes the waters of these rivers rest before continuing their journey.
Human beings did not want them to run wild, as they have always done so. So today, the tranquil surfaces of several reservoirs mirror the landscapes that surround them.

With the construction of the Santa Luzia Dam (1942), the Ribeira de Unhais ceased to roar in the gorge of the Serra do Vidual. The Ceira only stumbles at the Alto Ceira Dam (1949). But not even the gigantic Castelo de Bode Dam (1951) is able to store the huge amount of water that these mountains produce. The Cabril Dam (1954) took its name from the strangulation of the Zêzere River near Pedrógão Pequeno. At the end of it, as if the Zêzere wanted to be wild again, the Bouçã Dam (1991) prevents it from being so. These form an immense lake of about 6100 hectares, which is almost continuous. A mountain of water rcontaining 2 billion cubic metres of fresh water.

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restaurants
João Brandão
João Brandão
Oliveira do Hospital
restaurants
Varanda do Casal
Varanda do Casal
Casal de São Simão
restaurants
Museu da Chanfana
Museu da Chanfana
Miranda do Corvo
restaurants
Bem-Me-Quer
Bem-Me-Quer
Martim Branco
restaurants
Fugas Restaurant
Fugas Restaurant
restaurants
Callum
Callum
Oleiros
restaurants
Santo Amaro
Santo Amaro
Sertã
restaurants
As Beiras
As Beiras
Pampilhosa da Serra
lodging
Casa do Caminheiro Hostel
Casa do Caminheiro Hostel
Talasnal
lodging
Casas da Mina - Hostel
Casas da Mina - Hostel
Cabeço do Pião
lodging
Casas do Sinhel
Casas do Sinhel
Relva da Mó
lodging
Casas do Favacal
Casas do Favacal
Favacal
lodging
Casa da Moenda
Casa da Moenda
Benfeita
lodging
Hotel Parque Serra Da Lousã
Hotel Parque Serra Da Lousã
Miranda do Corvo
lodging
Arganil Municipal Camping Park
Arganil Municipal Camping Park
Sarzedo
lodging
Sete Quintas
Sete Quintas
Retorta
lodging
Aldeia Ruiva Campsite
Aldeia Ruiva Campsite
Aldeia Ruiva, Proença-a-Nova
tour
PR2 MCV - Gondramaz Schist trail - In the Miller’s Footsteps
PR2 MCV - Gondramaz Schist trail - In the Miller’s Footsteps
heritage
Chapel of São Sebastião
Chapel of São Sebastião
tour
Panoramic Road: Barroca - Fajão
Panoramic Road: Barroca - Fajão
tour
PR1 PPS - Fajão Schist trails  – Climbing the cliffs
PR1 PPS - Fajão Schist trails – Climbing the cliffs
Casas do Rio
village
Comareira
Comareira
offer
Geological Walk in Sobral Fernando
Geological Walk in Sobral Fernando
heritage
Igreja Matriz de Aldeia das Dez
Igreja Matriz de Aldeia das Dez
village
Benfeita
Benfeita
offer
Dia e Noite no Centro da Natureza
Dia e Noite no Centro da Natureza
heritage
Religious tour in Pedrógão Pequeno
Religious tour in Pedrógão Pequeno
offer
Passeio Geológico de Foz do Cobrão e Sobral Fernando
Passeio Geológico de Foz do Cobrão e Sobral Fernando
village
Martim Branco
Martim Branco