D14

Galerias da Barragem do Carrapatelo

Description

The construction of Carrapatelo dam, located on the river Douro, at the border between the municipalities of Cinfães and Marco de Canavezes, started in 1965, having its inauguration on 18 June 1972. This was the first dam to be built in the national section of the Douro river and subsequently were built four more dams. This is a gravity dam, has an installed capacity of 201 MW, a maximum height of 57 meters and the dam in the Douro river with the largest drop, with 36 meters. Also the fact that it has got a navigation lock that together with the other dams in the Douro, allows navigation in this river. The visit to its galleries, gives us an idea of the impressive work of engineering created here and also the riverbed bottom.

Natural Patrimony

In the surroundings of Carrapatelo dam a great diversity of fauna and flora can be observed. The aromatic myrtle is a plant that grows here, along with the cork oak, pedunculate oak and lote tree; in the shady forests of the region we can still see the beautiful solomon’s seal and the Primrose. In hardwood forests we can find the protected stag beetle, typical of these habitats. The fire salamander, the iberian newt or the common toad are amphibians that make up the diversity of fauna that lives here. Downstream the dam one can still see traces of the flora banks of the wild Douro, such as boxwood and terebinth.

Historical Patrimony

Facing the Douro, the church of St. Cristóvão of Nogueira is representative of the reorganization of parishes in the early middle ages, which gave rise to the parishes of St. Baptista of Cinfães and St. Cristóvão of Nogueira. This church has several legends associated; one tells that his original building was located in Sampaio castle and, in one night only, the powerful moors transferred it to the place of Nogueira.

Localization

Cinfães

Technical information

  • Level of Dificulty Low
  • Type of Route Linear
  • Access Car/Pedestrian