Rio Guadiana (River Guadiana), Portugal

  Rio Douro

  Rio Guadiana

  Rio Lima

  Rio Nabão

  Rio Mondego

  Rio Tejo

  Rio Zêzere

The Rio Guadiana flows out into the Atlantic Ocean at the Gulf of Cadiz between the Portuguese town of Vila Real de Santo Antonio and Ayamonte across the border.

Twice during it's route south the Rio Guadiana creates a natural border to Portugal and Spain.

From it's source in the Castilla-La Mancha, the Rio Guadiana turns west and it is south of the border town of Elvas in the Alentejo, does the first boundary begin.

The Rio Guadiana also creates the much maligned Alqueva Dam, Portugal's largest (and western Europe's) reservoir. Part of the Rio Guadiana was dammed at Alqueva (a village which was completely rebuilt and provided the name for the reservoir) and in 2006 the sluice gates closed to begin the long process of filling the valley. The Alqueva Reservoir covers a 250 square kilometre area and unfortunately though will be producing much needed 'green' energy from the hydro-electric plant, submerged an important wildlife reserve.