From all the Portuguese rivers, only Cávado and Rabagão had been object of such a systematic exploitation as Zêzere. It is born in the Mountain of Serra da Estrela (Lean Water jug), at 1900 m of altitude, and joins Tagus river in Constância, at a very inferior quota: 100 meters. It has therefore three determinative factors for the production of electric energy by the hydraulic way: declivity, volume and rocky edges. From there the construction of successive barrages that generate a lagoon of more than 100km of extension.



Such as the Mondego river, the first chunk of the Zêzere is the most interesting and the less known from the landscape point of view.

Born close to the Covão da Ametade, the Zêzere runs until Manteigas throughout a glacial valley with an U profile, which has been formed in recent geologic times.

In this first phase the river runs towards north. At north of Covilhã, it makes a great curve and takes definitive orientation, running from north-east to southwest.

The confluence with the Tejo is at Constância.

Another photo | Glacial valley of Zêzere