Playa de Cheles, Beach at Alqueva Reservoir in Badajoz, Spain
Playa de Cheles is a sandy beach along the Alqueva Reservoir shoreline in Spain's Badajoz region. The site features grassy zones, designated swimming areas, and spaces arranged for different types of water-based activities.
The beach emerged following construction of Alqueva Dam in 2002, which created a large artificial lake in the region. This infrastructure enabled recreational development in an area previously defined by agriculture.
The surrounding dehesa landscape reflects agricultural traditions where cork oaks and Mediterranean plants coexist with farming activity. These land-use patterns create the visual character visitors see around the beach today.
The beach provides parking spaces, accessible restrooms, and picnic areas with a beach bar serving visitors. An inclined pathway system aids movement throughout the site, with slip-resistant surfaces in all main zones.
The beach features one of the region's first large-scale wheelchair access systems, with fully flat and slip-resistant pathways throughout. This early commitment to accessible design sets it apart from other recreational beaches in the area.
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