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.

explore

restaurants
D. Sesnando Restaurant
D. Sesnando Restaurant
Penela
restaurants
João Brandão
João Brandão
Oliveira do Hospital
restaurants
Fugas Restaurant
Fugas Restaurant
restaurants
Sabores da Aldeia Restaurant
Sabores da Aldeia Restaurant
restaurants
As Beiras
As Beiras
Pampilhosa da Serra
restaurants
O Pascoal Restaurant
O Pascoal Restaurant
Fajão
restaurants
Safra Restaurant
Safra Restaurant
restaurants
Bem Me Quer
Bem Me Quer
Martim Branco
restaurants
Museu da Chanfana
Museu da Chanfana
Miranda do Corvo
lodging
Casas da Serra do Açor
Casas da Serra do Açor
Casal Novo, Arganil
lodging
Casa Cova do Barro
Casa Cova do Barro
Janeiro de Cima
lodging
Aqua Village Health Resort & SPA
Aqua Village Health Resort & SPA
Caldas de São Paulo
lodging
Casa Lausus
Casa Lausus
Talasnal
lodging
Casa do Caminheiro Hostel
Casa do Caminheiro Hostel
Talasnal
lodging
Casas de Água Formosa
Casas de Água Formosa
Vila de Rei
lodging
Mountain Whisper
Mountain Whisper
Gondramaz
lodging
Aldeia Oliveiras
Aldeia Oliveiras
Proença-a-Nova
lodging
Casa do Talasnal
Casa do Talasnal
Talasnal
offer
Night Canoeing I Starlight Journey
Night Canoeing I Starlight Journey
offer
Starlight Journey at the Geoscope (Fajão)
Starlight Journey at the Geoscope (Fajão)
village
Martim Branco
Martim Branco
village
Benfeita
Benfeita
tour
The Tagus Route - Souto Rest Area > Cabeça Gorda Rest Area - GRZ on Foot: Stage 4
The Tagus Route - Souto Rest Area > Cabeça Gorda Rest Area - GRZ on Foot: Stage 4
offer
Astrofotografia no Observatório do Porto da Balsa - 30 de julho
Astrofotografia no Observatório do Porto da Balsa - 30 de julho
tour
GRZ on Foot  - Return to Serenity [sector 7]
GRZ on Foot - Return to Serenity [sector 7]
village
Comareira
Comareira
heritage
Igreja Matriz de Aldeia das Dez
Igreja Matriz de Aldeia das Dez
heritage
Religious tour in Pedrógão Pequeno
Religious tour in Pedrógão Pequeno
heritage
Chapel of São Sebastião
Chapel of São Sebastião
tour
Mining Territory - Cabeço do Pião > Barroca - GRZ on Foot: Stage 2
Mining Territory - Cabeço do Pião > Barroca - GRZ on Foot: Stage 2

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