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
Casa da Ti Augusta
Casa da Ti Augusta
Figueira
restaurants
Varanda do Casal
Varanda do Casal
Casal de São Simão
restaurants
As Beiras
As Beiras
Pampilhosa da Serra
restaurants
Sabores da Aldeia
Sabores da Aldeia
restaurants
Bem-Me-Quer
Bem-Me-Quer
Martim Branco
restaurants
Museu da Chanfana
Museu da Chanfana
Miranda do Corvo
restaurants
Ponte Velha
Ponte Velha
Sertã
restaurants
Callum
Callum
Oleiros
restaurants
Fugas Restaurant
Fugas Restaurant
lodging
Mountain Whisper
Mountain Whisper
Gondramaz
lodging
Casa dos Amigos
Casa dos Amigos
Casal Novo
lodging
Hotel Rural Quinta da Geia
Hotel Rural Quinta da Geia
Aldeia das Dez
lodging
Hotel Parque Serra Da Lousã
Hotel Parque Serra Da Lousã
Miranda do Corvo
lodging
A Boa Vida do Campo
A Boa Vida do Campo
Tábua
lodging
A Casa da Natália
A Casa da Natália
Góis
lodging
Casa do Olival
Casa do Olival
Figueiró dos Vinhos
lodging
Pátio do Xisto
Pátio do Xisto
Gondramaz, Miranda do Corvo
lodging
Casa do Caminheiro Hostel
Casa do Caminheiro Hostel
Talasnal
village
Figueira
Figueira
heritage
Church of São Bartolomeu
Church of São Bartolomeu
offer
Aventura Épica XL
Aventura Épica XL
heritage
Alvoco das Várzeas Medieval Bridge
Alvoco das Várzeas Medieval Bridge
village
Ferraria de São João
Ferraria de São João
offer
Passeio Geológico de Foz do Cobrão e Sobral Fernando
Passeio Geológico de Foz do Cobrão e Sobral Fernando
tour
Cyclin'Portugal Centre of Fróia River Beach (P31 - Green)
Cyclin'Portugal Centre of Fróia River Beach (P31 - Green)
tour
The Tagus Route - Fontes > Souto Rest Area - GRZ on Foot: Stage 3
The Tagus Route - Fontes > Souto Rest Area - GRZ on Foot: Stage 3
village
Sobral de São Miguel
Sobral de São Miguel
heritage
Roman Villa of Rabaçal
Roman Villa of Rabaçal
offer
Escapadinha de E-Bike nas Aldeias do Xisto
Escapadinha de E-Bike nas Aldeias do Xisto
tour
Cyclin' Portugal Centre - Aldeias of Xisto de Oliveira do Hospital: P5 – Red
Cyclin' Portugal Centre - Aldeias of Xisto de Oliveira do Hospital: P5 – Red

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