Alqueva

Alqueva Dam

The largest artificial lake in Europe, whose borders measure over 1000 km and which includes dozens of islands.

As it is the largest artificial lake in Europe, the Alqueva dam completely changed agriculture and tourism in the region.

Water sports, boat trips or simply artificial beaches are the main attractions of this giant dam.

The Alqueva dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Rio Guadiana in Portugal.

The dam forms the Alqueva Reservoir, the largest artificial lake in Europe, with an area of 250 km2 and a capacity of 5.45 km3. Construction of the dam began in 1996 and it was completed in 2002. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power generation and it supports a 1,000 MW power station. The reservoir also provides water for irrigation in the Alentejo region.

The Alqueva Dam completely changed agriculture and tourism in the region. It is a major tourist attraction, with water sports, boat trips and artificial beaches being the main attractions.

The dam has had a huge impact on the local economy, with the creation of new jobs and businesses, as well as an increase in tourism.