The Alqueva dam in Portugal is the largest dam in Western Europe. The construction of this dam created the largest artificial lake in Western Europe, with 250 km2 surface and over 1100 kms of margins and extending over 80 kms of the course of the Guadiana River.
The Great Lake as it is known, has flooded villages that had to be rebuilt and replicated elsewhere, submerged Roman castles, millenary olive trees and dozens of traditional windmills and weirs.
Located in the Alentejo the largest area of Portugal, are lands with traces of very ancient human occupation as the cromlech of Xarez of about 4,000. AC. Small jewels of history and culture, medieval castles and fortresses sixteenth century, residences of the kings and navigators.
The Great Lake Alqueva (Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve) was the first region in the world where the sky was considered a reservation for observations of stars and get certified Starlight Tourism Destination assigned by UNESCO and the World Tourism Organization.
Alqueva is the most strategic water reserve in Europe.
Event sponsors : CARMIM – Cooperative Agricultural Reguengos de Monsaraz , Tourist Guide of Reguengos de Monsaraz, www.turismoalqueva.pt
