Zêzere River
Appearance
The Zêzere (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈzezɨɾɨ]) is a river in Portugal, tributary to the Tagus. It rises in the Serra da Estrela, near the Torre, the highest point of continental Portugal. The Zêzere runs through the town Manteigas, runs through Belmonte, passes south of the city Covilhã and east of the town of Pedrogão Grande. It flows into the Tagus in Constância. It is the second longest river in Portugal (the Mondego is the longest). Its slope allows for the hydroelectric powerplants of Cabril, Bouçã and Castelo de Bode.
Dams and Reservoirs
Beginning at the headwaters, there are 3 dams on the Zêzere:
Dam | Nameplate capacity (MW) | Reservoir | Surface area (km²) | Total capacity (Mio. m³) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cabril | 97 | Cabril | 20.23 | 720 |
Bouçã | 50 | Bouçã | 5 | 48.4 |
Castelo de Bode | 159 | Castelo de Bode | 32.91 | 1,095 |