Travel to Serra da Estrela in Guarda - Portugal

Hi all :)

There is a magnificent place in Portugal called Serra da Estrela, that we need to visit every year!
This time was a little different from the last visits we made to the mountains.

Normally, this trip is always made between the months of December and February, with the aim of seeing the snow and being able to enjoy an experience in the mountains at high altitude, different from the experiences we manage to get during the rest of the year, and the kids are always crazy with satisfaction.
As i mentioned at the beginning, this time was a little different once we didn't make the entire way to the summit at 1993 meters altitude, because, almost at the top, we were faced with such a long queue that we would have lost a good couple of hours in the car to get there, and then we decided to park a little earlier and explore a plain that is closer, but equally splendid.

The Serra da Estrela Natural Park, with its 375 kilometers of trails of enormous scenic beauty, with impressive mountain slopes, is the largest protected area in Portugal and home to one of the best biogenetic reserves in Europe.
It is one of the few Portuguese regions where snow is virtually certain, being covered every year by an extensive white mantle in winter, with the glacial valleys of Manteigas, Covão do Urso, Loriga and Covão Grande being the main responsible for snowfall, conserving today, a similar image of the glacial ages that occurred there thousands of years ago and which gave rise to at least 25 lakes of glacial origin at high altitude in Portugal and which give rise to the Zêzere, Alva and Mondego Rivers.

On the way up, we took the opportunity to make a small detour to the left and went to visit a crossing point for all those who pass by.
As far as i can remember, and oddly enough, i think it was the first time we stopped there and went out to see the place.
In this place, in 1911, what became known as the "Lagoa Comprida" Dam was built, built from a natural lagoon where the cold and pure waters, resulting from the melting of the snow of Serra da Estrela, the main reservoir of the famous water from Serra da Estrela.

Right there next to the car park, a small house for sale to the public, with basic services, selling souvenirs, bathrooms, etc. goal was set the moment we got out of the car, such was the wind and the negative temperature.
The whole place around the dam looked like mineland, with the ground all frozen and extremely slippery.
But in the end the visit, although quick, was pleasant and nobody got hurt, which turned out to be quite positive :P

Already at the maximum altitude that we managed to reach this time, we ended up finding several extraordinary and safe places where it was possible to spend some pleasant and fun moments with the kids.
Unfortunately i don´t have any photos to share, but this day ended in a very cozy little tavern, devouring everything that is a local product, the famous cheeses from the mountains, ham, sausage and a good wine.
It couldn't have ended any other way :P

That's all for today

Photo by @aleister
Camera - Canon EOS 600D
Lens - EFS 18-55mm
Location - Portugal

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