Tagus River is an international river that flows through Portugal and Spain. It’s the longest river in the Iberian Peninsula, with one thousand and seven kilometres (1,007 km).
The river rises in mid-eastern Spain at an altitude of 1500 meters above sea level, in the Montes Universales. It flows west with two main south-westward sections, to empty into the Atlantic Ocean right after passing through Lisbon and enchanting every passenger in this city.
Tagus River in Portugal
The length of Tagus (Rio Tejo) on the territory of Portugal is 275 kilometres. It is often said that the capital of Portugal is in the “mouth” of the Tagus – where you will find the large Tagus Estuary, protected by the Tagus Estuary Natural Reserve.
The main cities the river passes through in Portugal are Abrantes, Santarém, Almada and Lisbon.
There is a large bridge across the river, the Vasco da Gama Bridge, which with a total length of 17.2 km (10.7 mi) is the second longest bridge in Europe. The Port of Lisbon, straddling its mouth, is one of Europe's busiest.
Tagus Estuary Natural Reserve
The area classified as a Nature Reserve, located north of Alcochete, is the largest wetland in the country and one of the ten most important in Europe. This status was given to it to protect the migratory waterfowl that flock here. In times of passage, the Estuary can host more than 120,000 birds, of which the Tailors stand out, which form a real concentration, as more than 20% of the population of Western Europe can be found here. The beauty of this landscape is enhanced by the pink plumage flamingos.
History of Tagus River
The river is and has been since ancient times, navigable. It was a determining factor for the early Portuguese navigators and a centre of international commerce. It played a crucial role in the establishment and development of trade links of the ocean coast with the mainland areas. If it wasn’t for the Tagus, Lisbon wouldn’t develop into this wonderful and vibrant city that it is today. The river also had strategic value to the Spanish and Portuguese empires, as it guarded the approach to Lisbon. For example, in 1587, Francis Drake briefly approached the river after his successful raid at Cadiz.
Importance of Tagus River These Days
Several dams and diversions of Tagus River supply drinking water to population centres of central Spain and Portugal. Dozens of hydroelectric stations create power.
The irrigation systems created based on the Tagus waters irrigate the agricultural lands of the state. This is a Portuguese treasure in the fry months of the year.
The waters of the river in Lisbon are clean and transparent. It is amazing to see the riverside from Praça do Comércio or from Cristo Rei, but the most impressive experience is to take a small boat cruise, feel the water beneath you and look at Lisbon from an unusual point of view.
