Valparaíso Dam, Man-made reservoir in the province of Zamora

The Valparaíso Dam is a concrete gravity structure spanning 540 meters across the river Tera in northern Spain, standing approximately 67 meters tall. It creates a large reservoir covering over 1,200 hectares with a capacity of around 162 million cubic meters, surrounded by open landscapes and green vegetation.

The dam was completed in 1988 as part of Spain's program to expand hydroelectric power generation. Its construction caused two older villages, Anta de Tera and Manzanal de Abajo, to be submerged beneath the new waters, leaving only memories of the communities that once stood there.

The name Valparaíso is shared with the Chilean port city, but the sources give no link between them; the dam's name comes from the local place name in Zamora. The reservoir is owned and operated by Iberdrola Generación S.A., and its two Francis turbines, installed in the powerhouse at the foot of the wall, have generated power since 1988.

The dam lies in the north of Zamora Province, where the Tera forms the boundary between Mombuey and Villardeciervos. The crest road runs at 836 m above sea level, and the machine house with its two Francis turbines sits at the foot of the wall. The reservoir reaches its normal level at 833 m.

The structure serves as both a dam and a working road, allowing travelers to drive across its top while viewing the vast water below. This dual function creates an unusual experience where visitors can directly feel the engineering beneath them while crossing.