About Almendra Dam

Almendra is a remarkable arch dam on the Tormes river in the province of Salamanca, Castilla y León. At 202 metres, it is one of the tallest dams in Europe and the tallest in Spain. Completed in 1970, the double-curvature arch dam holds 2,649 million cubic metres — the third-largest reservoir in Spain. Almendra was built primarily for hydroelectric power generation and forms part of the Duero river system's cascade of dams that produce a significant share of Spain's renewable energy. The reservoir sits in a remote, sparsely populated area of western Salamanca, where the Tormes river has carved a deep canyon through ancient granitic rock. The dam's extraordinary height and elegant arch form make it an engineering landmark. Downstream, the water flows through the Aldeadávila dam — another major hydroelectric facility — before entering Portugal. The Tormes river itself is famous in Spanish literature, flowing through the university city of Salamanca and referenced in the picaresque novel 'Lazarillo de Tormes'.