Dams

Odeleite Dam, the river of the Blue Dragon

Located in the municipality of Castro Marim in the Algarve, the Odeleite Dam was built on the River Odeleite, which rises in the uplands of the Serra do Caldeirão and flows into the Rio Guadiana.

An aerial photograph showed that the reservoir is shaped like a blue dragon, a symbol of power, strength and good luck in Chinese culture, as well as being an emblem that was traditionally used by the emperors throughout history. This fact has attracted the attention of many visitors, who started to refer to it as the "River of the Blue Dragon".

Close to the dam, the small village of Odeleite has several points of interest such as the Main Church, built in 1534, some archaeological remains from the Roman era, and a number of watermills and windmills that are typical of this part of the Algarve. The natural heritage and outdoor activities such as walking and cycling, boat trips and other water sports are also good reasons to visit the region.