Tâmega
Encyclopedia
Verín
Verín is a small city in the Autonomous Community of Galicia, Spain located in the southeast of the province of Ourense. The population of the concello is about 14,433. It is located 70 kilometers east of the provincial capital of Ourense and 15 kilometers north of the Portuguese city of Chaves...
, Galicia flowing south to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, in the historical provinces of Trás-os-Montes
Trás-os-Montes Province
Trás-os-Montes Province is one of the medieval provinces of Portugal.The northern part is covered by Alto Trás-os-Montes Subregion, the southern by Douro Subregion.-See also :* Trás-os-Montes * Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro Province...
and Douro Litoral
Douro Litoral
Douro Litoral is a historical province of Portugal. It is centered on the city of Porto, now the capital of the Norte Region. Other important cities in the province are Vila Nova de Gaia, Matosinhos, Maia, Póvoa de Varzim, and the historically important Penafiel, Amarante, Feira, Vila do Conde.The...
.
Verín
Verín is a small city in the Autonomous Community of Galicia, Spain located in the southeast of the province of Ourense. The population of the concello is about 14,433. It is located 70 kilometers east of the provincial capital of Ourense and 15 kilometers north of the Portuguese city of Chaves...
it flows south to Portuguese city of Chaves, then it flows through a fertile valley called the Veiga. Below Chaves the river narrows to pass through mountains and valleys. Owing to low water level and frequent small dams it is not navigable, passing through the cities of Amarante
Amarante, Portugal
Amarante is a city in Amarante Municipality, Portugal.The city itself has a population of 11,261 inhabitants. It sits on the banks of the Tâmega River.It is a sister city of Wiesloch, Germany.- Culture :...
and Marco de Canaveses
Marco de Canaveses
Marco de Canaveses is a city and municipality of the Porto district, in northern Portugal. The city itself has a population of 9,042.It is the birth place of Carmen Miranda.- Geography :...
, flowing in the Douro River, near Entre-os-Rios: in fact Entre-os-Rios means between the rivers.
The Tâmega is more important historically than economically. It has always served as an invasion route for foreign armies intent on reaching the richer southern lands of Portugal. The valley around Chaves has especially seen its share of battles and invading armies.
Unfortunately, like many rivers today, the Tâmega suffers from pollution and the ravages of sand and gravel extraction companies. The quality of the water has deteriorated greatly. Another problem is the periodic occurrence of flooding. At the time of writing these problems have not been addressed.
Since the completion of the Torrão Damn in 1988, situated less than 1 km from the outlet into the Douro river and the town of Entre-os-Rios in the municipality of Marco de Canaveses, the Tâmega has been slowly recovering from the effects of pollution. Sand extraction activities have been prohibited and many upstream cities installed modern sewage treatment plants. A new damn is planned between the citiy of Amarante
Amarante, Portugal
Amarante is a city in Amarante Municipality, Portugal.The city itself has a population of 11,261 inhabitants. It sits on the banks of the Tâmega River.It is a sister city of Wiesloch, Germany.- Culture :...
and the town of Mondim de Basto
Mondim de Basto
Mondim de Basto is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 172.1 km² and a total population of 8,470 inhabitants.The municipality is composed of 8 parishes, and is located in the district of Vila Real....
. Besides producing electricity, the project will have feature a flood control system that will divert the waterflow towards the smaller Olo River.