Belesar reservoir, Reservoir in Lugo Province, Spain.
Belesar Reservoir stretches along the Miño River, held back by a concrete dam that measures roughly half a kilometer long and 29 meters high. The water body spreads across a wide valley surrounded by steep banks and hillsides covered with vegetation and vineyards.
The dam was completed in 1963, requiring the relocation of Portomarín village to higher ground. This massive undertaking involved carefully dismantling and reconstructing two of the village's churches in their new location.
The reservoir borders the Ribeira Sacra region, where stepped vineyards climb the hillsides, continuing a winemaking tradition that reaches back to Roman times.
The reservoir can be reached via the LU-533 road heading toward Monforte de Lemos, then about two kilometers to the dam. Several viewpoints are scattered around the shoreline, making it easy to find good vantage points.
When water levels drop during dry periods, submerged structures emerge, including an ancient bridge and cemetery from the original settlement. These discoveries offer a striking reminder of what lies beneath the surface.
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