Serra da Estrela Natural Park
The Serra da Estrela Natural Park (PNSE) is located in the interior of Portugal essentially in the district of Guarda (85%) and also in the district of Castelo Branco (15%). Marked by granite, shale and schist rock massifs and vestiges of ancient glaciers, the high altitude and location of the natural park make it one of the places in mainland Portugal with the highest occurrence of rain, snow, hail and dew.
Unlike the other Serras de Portugal, such as Penêda-Gerês, where the effects of glaciation have generated controversy for decades, the Serra da Estrela glacier shows a clear glacial geo-heritage, of high pedagogical and scientific significance. For example, the notable U-shaped Zêzere valley (GF32) has often been cited in national and international scientific publications and is an example of a glacial valley.
The glaciation style of Estrela is the result of its geographical location on the west bank of the Iberian Peninsula, being the first mountain to affect the interior movement of the moist Atlantic air masses, but also the plateau altitude between 1400 and 2000 m, range altitude, just above the altitude of the 1650 m paleoequilibrium (ELA) line
Among the best known and most visited places in the mountains we can find the Penhas Douradas site. Located in the municipality of Manteigas, district of Guarda, at about 1,500 meters of altitude, it stands out for its chalets and the comprehensiv...
Among the best known and most visited places in the mountains we can find the Penhas Douradas site. Located in the municipality of Manteigas, district of Guarda, at about 1,500 meters of altitude, it stands out for its chalets and the comprehensiv...
It was one of the first Pousadas de Portugal, an absolutely innovative concept of small hotels “that don't look like hotels”, very welcoming, in which guests could feel the true hospitality, the beauty of the Portuguese landscape, the delights of ...
This Lagoon is of glacier origin and is located in the Vale da Candeeira basin at 1670m altitude. This Lagoon is of glacier origin and is located in the Vale da Candeeira basin at 1670m altitude
Glacier valley whose head meets the Zêzere Valley, and presents glacial circuses and small lagoons, which fill the covões along this valley. At the confluence with the Zêzere Valley, the Candieira stream turns into a waterfall, showing the charact...
In general, the covons in Serra da Estrela correspond to glacial basins of over-excavation, that is, they are depressed and poorly drained areas, in whose bottom, after the glacier retreat, sediments accumulated, which allowed the development of p...
The Zêzere valley is a perfect example of the strength of glaciers to sculpt landscapes. With a 10 km long U-shaped cross-section between Covão da Ametade and the town of Manteigas, the valley has a succession of covons, glacier bolts and suspende...
The Vale do Rossim dam is located on the Fervença stream and started operating in 1956.The Vale do Rossim dam is located on the Fervença stream and started operating in 1956.
