About Caia Dam

Caia dam is located near the city of Elvas in the Alto Alentejo, close to the Spanish border on the river Caia, a tributary of the Guadiana. The earth dam was completed in 1967, stands 52 metres tall, and holds 203 million cubic metres. It serves primarily for irrigation and public water supply to Elvas and surrounding municipalities. The reservoir is important for the agricultural economy of the Caia valley, supporting extensive irrigated farming in an otherwise dry region. The landscape around the dam is typical of the Alentejo: flat to gently rolling plains with sparse vegetation and hot, dry summers.