Castelo do Bode Dam

Castelo do Bode Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam on the Zêzere River, a tributary of the Tagus River, located southeast of Tomar and north of Constância, in Santarém District, Portugal. It is one of the tallest structures in Portugal. The dam was constructed between 1945 and 1951. It also supports a 138 MW hydroelectric power station which was commissioned between 1951 and 1952.^[2] This power station has black start capabilities, and after the 2025 Iberian Peninsula blackout was one of the two first power plants to start reenergizing the Iberian power grid.^[3]

Castelo de Bode Dam
Castelo de Bode Dam
Official name	Barragem de Castelo do Bode
Location	near Tomar and Constância, Santarém District, Portugal
Coordinates	39°32′34″N 8°19′11″W
Status	Operational
Construction began	1945
Opening date	1951
Owner(s)	Energias de Portugal
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Concrete arch-gravity
Impounds	Zêzere River
Height	115 metres (377 ft)
Length	402 metres (1,319 ft)
Spillway type	Service, chute
Reservoir
Creates	Castelo de Bode Reservoir
Total capacity	1,095,000,000 m3 (3.87×1010 cu ft)
Active capacity	900,500,000 m3 (3.180×1010 cu ft)
Catchment area	3,950 km2 (1,530 sq mi)
Power Station
Operator(s)	Energias de Portugal
Commission date	1951-1952
Turbines	3 x 46 MW Francis-type
Installed capacity	138 MW[1]
Annual generation	396.5 GWh[1]