Barragem de Lagoa Comprida, سد في محافظة غواردا، البرتغال
The Barragem de Lagoa Comprida is a brick dam in the Serra da Estrela range, near Seia in the Guarda district. It holds back a long, narrow reservoir and houses a hydroelectric power station equipped with Pelton turbines.
Work began in 1912 and continued in stages until the structure reached its final height in 1966. It was among Portugal's first major hydroelectric projects and brought electricity to many surrounding communities for the first time.
The name refers to the elongated shape of the natural lake that the dam flooded. Walkers and anglers visit the shore regularly, using the area as a starting point for walks through the higher ground of the Serra da Estrela.
The site sits high in the Serra da Estrela in rocky, forested terrain that can be hard to reach in winter due to snow and ice. Visiting in the warmer months makes the paths around the reservoir much easier to walk.
A tunnel connects this dam to another structure downstream in Loriga, allowing water to be managed across both sites together. Large rock blocks scattered around the shore were carried here by glaciers during the ice age and are still visible today.
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