Sado River

Sado River
00
The Sado River as seen from the castle of Alcácer do Sal
Location
CountryPortugal
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationSerra da Vigia, Ourique
 • elevation230 m (750 ft)
Mouth 
 • location
Atlantic Ocean at Setúbal
 • elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length175 km (109 mi)
Basin size7,692 km2 (2,970 sq mi)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • rightXarrama River

The Sado (European Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈsaðu]) is a river in southern Portugal; it is one of the major rivers in the country. It flows in a northerly direction (the only major Portuguese river to do so) through 175 kilometres (109 mi) from its springs in the hills of Ourique before entering the Atlantic Ocean in an estuary in the city of Setúbal.[1]

The estuary is the habitat of a large community of bottlenose dolphins; there are 31 members of the pod, each of whom has been named (2007).

The river is dammed in several places, chiefly for irrigation of rice, maize, and vegetables.

In its course, the river crosses the city of Alcácer do Sal.

38°29′22″N 8°55′24″W / 38.4894°N 8.92333°W / 38.4894; -8.92333

  1. ^ "The Sado River | Ecotourism | Nature Tourism | SadoArrábida". SadoArrábida - Turismo Natura. Retrieved 2020-01-06.