Consuegra Dam

The Consuegra Dam is a ruined Roman buttress dam in Toledo province, Castilla–La Mancha, Spain. The dam dates to the 3rd or 4th century AD.^[1] It is on the River Amarguillo upstream from Consuegra.

Consuegra Dam
Official name	Presa Romana de Consuegra
Location	Toledo province, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Coordinates	39°25′46.4″N 3°39′17.5″W
Opening date	3rd or 4th century
Dam and spillways
Impounds	Amarguillo (Guadiana basin)
Height	4.8 m
Length	>632.0 m
Width (base)	2.6 m

Although less than 5 metres high, the dam was remarkably long, over 600 metres. The reservoir seems to have had a dual function of supplying water to Consuegra and irrigating farmland. The settlement dates back to pre-Roman times and was important enough in Roman times to have a circus.^[2][3]

The river Amarguillo has an irregular flow and in 1891 a flood badly damaged the town of Consuegra. The dam may also have suffered damage at this time.

The aftermath of a flood of the river Amarguillo

Conservation

The structure is protected by the heritage listing Bien de Interés Cultural.

See also

• List of Roman dams and reservoirs
• Roman architecture
• Roman engineering