douro river water levels douro river water levels

Since the 1930s the Douro has been harnessed extensively for hydroelectric power and irrigation. If the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Moreover, they shared approaches to restore and protect this natural hotspot. The waters of Pocinho lake reach 125 metres (410ft) above sea level. All images are copyrighted to their respectful owners and we make every effort to credit photographers. We safeguard and restore wetlands for people and nature. Got through the first dam and then halted. Lines sailing this Portuguese-Spanish waterway include AmaWaterways, APT, A-ROSA, CroisiEurope, Scenic, Uniworld, Viking . CIBIO found that the presence of small hydropower plants deeply affect endangered pearl mussel populations. Nowadays port is transported there in tanker trucks. Considered one of the most untamed rivers of Europe, the, The grape harvest season is the best time to visit the Douro Valley when the region is at its most beautiful. Large coefficients indicate important high and low tides; major currents and movements usually take place on the sea bed. The contents of this website are the sole responsibility of Wetlands International-European Association and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Commission. The latter includes wine producing areas such as the Ribera del Duero DOP. But note: It has become so popular that they charge to get in, and if don't want to wait in line for an hour, buy your tickets online and get there early. At this moment the current water temperature in Porto (Rio Douro) is -. 2024: Cruise through the dramatic UNESCO-designated Douro River Valley on an extraordinary journey designed for culturally curious travelers. Within Spain, it flows through the middle of the autonomous community of Castile and Len, with the basin spanning through the northern half of the Meseta Central. Does any one have experience with this river and any suggestions on the best time to go to avoid a problem. Porto, Portugal's second-largest city, has some 2,000 years of history behind it. Also hilly as it rises off the river, this area is best known for the port houses that stud its mountainside. Booked an all-day cruise up to the wine estates and then back by train - started well, average continental breakfast. For the municipality in the Philippines, see, The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, "The Esla River Basin: From the Cantabrian Mountain to the Duero", "Spanish-Portuguese Albufeira Convention", "Hydrological response of Mediterranean headwaters to climate oscillations and land-cover changes: The mountains of Duero River basin (Central Spain)", IPTM Instituto Porturio e dos Transportes Martimos, Delegao do Norte e Douro, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Douro&oldid=1142166763, Articles containing Spanish-language text, Articles containing Portuguese-language text, Articles containing Proto-Celtic-language text, Articles needing more detailed references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 21:54. Generally, when high/low water levels hit the Douro, three options are available to cruise lines: One of the less-mentioned issues facing Douro river cruises is fire. In 1998, Portugal and Spain signed the Albufeira Convention, an agreement on the sharing of trans-boundary rivers to include the Douro, Tagus and Guadiana. Speaking of water in the Douro, here is a question I've been meaning to ask someone from Porto . 7 years ago. This article is about the river. Get to Known Basic Spanish and/or Portuguese or Pack a Phrase Book. Yes, the river levels are a bit low, but I never heard on the news that the Douro river can't be used by boats. . However (after booking the trip with our helpful receptionist) we were called the night before to be told the trip would not be happening. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in India. Consider this, too: this could have been one of several sailings that the crew has had to deal with so far this season. The next five downstream are along the Portuguese-Spanish border; the first three are owned and operated by Portugal: (Miranda, Picote and Bemposta Dams), while the next two belong to Spain: (Aldeadvila and Saucelle Dams). ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-68898124', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cruises are schedule this means that the river has "sufficient water" for it the water level in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? and in Italy Dora, etc. The Douro vinhateiro (vine-land) of the Douro Valley in Portugal, long devoted to vineyards, has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The cruise-ship tours, while good overviews of the making of port and the history of the area, are by no means satisfying enough. The ancient city, one of the most historic in Europe, dates back to the Roman Empire and also has influences from periods such as Gothic and Baroque, tucked within Romanesque city walls. water level made us too high to clear a bridge. Box 471 River Cruise Advisor | Avid Cruiser | About | Terms & Full Disclosure | Privacy | Contact | Subscribe. So dont stress about the what-ifs; be excited about your amazing journey through the vineyards and history of Portugal. At a press conference on July 23 rd, the Douro Vivo Network launched seven studies providing new information on the Douro river basin ecosystem. Cruises on the Douro River may not have quite the same pull as other European rivers, but its beautiful scenery of sloping wine terraces give it the edge. Corrections? Cruises on this Portuguese and Spanish waterway stretch from Porto on the Atlantic Ocean, all the way east into Spain's Vega de Terron (essentially a docking station where passengers head to the gorgeous golden city of Salamanca). It's also where you'll Se Cathedral, built in the 12th century to serve as fortress as well as church. 580 helpful votes. The Water Level is defined as the height, in meters above the geoid, of the reflecting surface of continental water bodies. Maythrough October have the best months for outdoor activities during a Douro cruise. Tell us your travel interests, dreams and desires, then let our experts tailor the perfect trip for you! In the last decade, Douro River cruises have become increasingly popular. The Wetlands International-European Association gratefully acknowledges financial support from the European Commission. "It's hard to say that [what happened in 2018] had to do with global warming," said AmaWaterways' Schreiner, who has followed river water levels in Europe closely for nearly three decades. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. We left at 8am, breakfasted on board the boat, cruised along the beautiful Douro Valley, passing through amazing locks, and had an excellent 3 course lunch before arriving in Regua at 3pm. The waves you will find on the shore can be slightly affected by the orientation of the coastline and the seabed of the beaches, although in most cases they are usually equivalent. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. History isnt a good indicator of high or low water. Sheep rearing is also still important. We are fully committed to low impact travel that not only preserves but gives back to the amazing places we visit. The seven-night cruise itself travels between the delightful UNESCO World Heritage city of Porto (where you'll likely spend a couple of nights) and either the last little village in Portugal, Barca de Alva; or, just over the Spanish border, another tiny village called Vega de Terron; both are the jumping-off point for the two-hour bus ride to {#widget:image|decorators:article_image|image:3568|title:Vega de Terron (Salamanca) (Photo:canadastock/Shutterstock)|description:Vega de Terron (Salamanca) (Photo:canadastock/Shutterstock)#}. Omissions? We can sympathize; after all, if we liked coach tours, wed call our site. Be Prepared for a Ride to Reach Off-ship Douro River Attractions. Eventually, the moon will rise again in the northeast (60) at 15:28 h. When the solunar period coincides with sunrise or sunset, we can expect more activity than initially planned. On Saturday, the water level at the German town of Kaub - a critical juncture - slipped to just 36 centimeters, or 14 inches, according to official figures. Tide times and charts for Porto (Rio Douro), Porto and weather forecast for fishing in Porto (Rio Douro) in 2023 Tide tables and solunar charts for Porto (Rio Douro): high tides and low tides, surf reports, sun and moon rising and setting times, lunar phase, fish activity and weather conditions in Porto (Rio Douro). Saving the best for last, the Plaza Major, the heart of Salamanca, is an 18th-century square, completely surrounded by golden limestone buildings and ringed with alfresco cafes. Answer 1 of 7: Wondering if any locals can provide insight into the extreme water levels of the Duoro River that are causing river cruises to be cancelled. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. Douro River cruises are from Porto, Portugal to Vega de Terron, Spain. To give you an idea of the range of waves to expect at a given time, we consider the. 2. Typically, seven or 10-night trips begin with land tours in Lisbon before passengers are transported by motorcoach to their ships. Rue de l'Industrie 10, 1000 Brussels, Helping you make informed cruise decisions. You'll pass must-sees like the Clrigos Church, the wooden rabelo boats which used to carry wine barrels across the river and the Nature Reserve Douro Estuary Site, a protected area with . None of these small, fast-flowing rivers is navigable. Douro River, Latin Durius, Spanish Ro Duero, Portuguese Rio Douro, third longest river of the Iberian Peninsula, draining a catchment area of 30,539 square miles (79,096 square km). In almost all cases, water levels are so fickle that they can change by the hour. The latter two are located at the mouth of the Douro at the Atlantic Ocean. 1470 Birchview Rd , Douro Dummer, ON K0L2H is a single-family home listed for-sale at $839,000. Except for Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia at the river mouth, the only population centres of any note are Foz do Tua, Pinho and Peso da Rgua. It flows W across N Spain, then southwest to form part of the Spanish-Portuguese border before flowing W across N Portugal to the Atlantic Ocean at Prto. To improve the knowledge on the impacts of existing dams (including the Portuguese Large Dam Program) and projected new dams, the Douro Vivo Network studied the cumulative impacts of hydropower on ecosystems and livelihoods. 55 helpful votes 1. Mid-July through August is another good time for snagging deals; the region can be very hot then. Header image: View on So Domingos Mountain and Douro river Paulo Cardoso on Unsplash, Share this post: Mid-August is the hottest time of the year, with highs of 85.3F (29.6C) and lows around 59.6F (15.3C) rarely falling below this range. Recently, a prosperous tourist industry has developed based on river excursions from Porto to points along the Upper Douro valley. Rising in the Sierra de Urbin in Spain, the river crosses the Numantian Plateau in a pronounced bend and flows generally westward for 556 miles (895 km) across Spain and northern Portugal to the Atlantic Ocean . Unlike you, they dont get to leave instead, theyre treated to greeting busloads of unhappy guests week after week. Its Latinized form Durius derives from a hydronymic root *dur-, which is Pre-Indo-European or Pre-Celtic. We are booked to cruise the Duoro late June and hope the levels will have subsided by then. Viking Cruises' website states that "low water levels will affect select river itineraries." Impacted travelers will be contacted by the cruise line. The premier times to visit the Douro are in springtime, May and June, and then again during harvest season -- in fall months of September and October. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. The highest lock, at Carrapatelo Dam, has a maximum lift of 35 metres (115ft). The academic partners include the universities of Porto, Coimbra, Trs-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Nova University of Lisbon and the Polytechnic Institute of Bragana. The most important tributaries in this region are the Pisuerga, passing through Valladolid, and the Esla, which passes through Zamora. Scientists uncover new information on the Douro river ecosystem, Small hydropower plants as a threat to the endangered pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera, Reviving Douro Basin Identification of Biodiversity Hotspots, Georeferencing and characterization of the Douro River Basin obstacles, Contra barragens, pelos santurios do Douro: o SOS dos investigadores, Investigadores e ambientalistas defendem que no se faam novas barragens, Associaes ambientalistas no querem mais barragens no Douro, Assessment of terrestrial protected areas for the conservation of freshwater biodiversity (CIBIO). ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-68898309', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Douro river is controlled, so between winter and summer time there's no much difference, but of course winter months the level is slightly over the year average. The depth of water underneath the keel, or bottom, of your ship can be less than a foot in many instances. Cruise Specialists Voyage Hosts reporting on their round the world journeys. In some cases, ships are operated by DouroAzul, a Portugal-based company that owns much of the region's cruising infrastructure, from docking facilities to a fleet of river ships. We additionally point out in the chart the periods of greatest activity during the year with a big blue fish on the period bar + info, Arcozelo | Barra do Douro | Crestuma (Rio Douro) | Labruge | Lavra | Lea da Palmeira | Leixes | Mindelo | Porto (Rio Douro) | Pvoa de Varzim | So Flix da Marinha | Valadares | Vila Ch | Vila do Conde | Vila Nova de Gaia, Barra do Douro (4.1 km) | Vila Nova de Gaia (4.5 km) | Valadares (7 km) | Leixes (8 km) | Arcozelo (11 km) | Lea da Palmeira (11 km) | So Flix da Marinha (12 km) | Crestuma (Rio Douro) (13 km) | Lavra (15 km) | Espinho (15 km) | Labruge (18 km) | Vila Ch (20 km) | Esmoriz (21 km) | Mindelo (22 km) | Vila do Conde (25 km) | Pvoa de Varzim (29 km) | Furadouro (30 km) | Carregal (31 km) | Ovar (33 km) | Puxadouro (34 km), Changes in pressure have a considerable influence on the activity of fish, Rapidly fluctuating either way is indication of good fishing, TIDES4FISHING | WEATHER CONDITIONS IN PORTO (RIO DOURO) | 4 MARCH 2023, 9:33, TIDES4FISHING | WEATHER FORECAST FOR PORTO (RIO DOURO) | 4 MARCH 2023, TIDES4FISHING | ULTRAVIOLET INDEX IN PORTO (RIO DOURO) | 4 MARCH 2023, DAILY EVOLUTION OF WATER TEMPERATURE IN PORTO (RIO DOURO). There is a wide range in average temperatures in the stunning Douro Valley. I believe the choice should be based on weather and the views, considering that I suggest: May to July - warm weather not too much and the landscapes are colorful. The solar transit will be at 12:46:12 h. The tidal coefficient today is 64 (average). Its historic centre has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its significant architecture and history. There are five locks positioned along its length that help ships transit to other levels and control the flow of the water downstream, aided by the region's climate that tends to be dry and hot for the summer months. Outright cancellation. The good news? The old travel adage, forewarned is forearmed, is very appropriate. The Douro has some help, though, in avoiding water level-related snafus. Save. Please, use with caution. Speaking of water in the Douro, here is a question I've been meaning to ask someone from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Pinhao: Most of your time docked in Pinhao, part of the gorgeous Vila Real district, will be spent on excursions to places like Quintana do Seixo (part of the mighty Sandemans conglomerate) to taste port and learn how it was made. This means at this moment you need to be prepared for a wave of, TIDES4FISHING | SWELL FORECAST IN PORTO (RIO DOURO) | 4 MARCH 2023, Remember that you can check the tides at your fishing point from your smartphone with Nautide, the. This usually involves putting guests up in hotels on the cruise lines dime and arranging for coach transportation and guides that werent originally needed. Call 1.406.541.2677 Start Planning My Trip CITAB published an approach for prioritizing dam removal for river connectivity improvement based on a cost-benefit analysis. Most trips are roundtrip from Porto, which is a coastal city in western Portugal located near the Atlantic Ocean. Report inappropriate content NewJerseyCyclist New Jersey Level Contributor 154 posts 2. The fact of the matter remains that the vast majority of Douro river cruises will be completed without a hitch. Major Spanish riverside towns include Soria, Almazn, Aranda de Duero, Tordesillas, Zamora and major Portuguese towns include Miranda do Douro, Foz Ca, Peso da Rgua, Lamego, Vila Nova de Gaia, and Porto. Still, river cruise industry leaders say they haven't seen a pattern yet that gives them pause. The moon set at 6:00 h at 302 northwest. The drainage basin was depopulated in the 8th century. Any idea what kind of fish those might be? The Netherlands I believe the choice should be based on weather and the views, considering that I suggest: May to July - warm weather not too much and the landscapes are colorful. View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. The motorcoaches are new, clean and comfortable (with bathrooms onboard, if necessary). Very enjoyable cruise to see and the Douro Valley, where wine and port are made. We are booked to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Unlike ocean cruises, river cruises operate in the margins. The Douro Vivo Network is a multidisciplinary partnership of Portuguese and international academics, legal experts and conservationists with the aim to promote the protection of free-flowing and clean rivers, with a special focus on the Douro river. Best Time for Douro River Cruise: Weather, Seasons, Temperature & Water Levels Best Time to Take a Douro River Cruise (Portugal & Spain) Portugal All Trips Cruises Land Tours River Cruises Ships Deals Info Talk with an expert Build your ideal Portugal trip. If you own rights to any of the images and they are not credited, or you do not wish them to appear on our site, please contact us at [emailprotected]. more, Authentic Douro Wine Tour Including Lunch and River Cruise. Data available from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2024 *. Don't miss the train station at Sao Bento for its lively tile murals depicting the Portuguese people working, playing, living. The major tributaries of the Dourothe Esla, Pisuerga, and Arlanzn, all in Spainflow from the wetter northern zone; the southern tributaries are less important. Just because one year was affected by abnormally-heavy rainfall doesnt mean the following one will be identical. (One of the five we went through, Carrapatelo -- the largest in Portugal -- represented a drop (or rise) of 115 feet.). Get expert advice, insider tips and more. For other uses, see, "Duero" redirects here. Winery tours and port wine tastings are available year-round at riverbank vineyards, but the region really comes to life in the fall months of, If youre hoping to snag a deal,consider traveling during the, Veteran river cruisers might be wary of planning a cruise in the spring months where you can get some excellent discounts. Still, events have occurred in the past. Things will be normal in June, the dams are at their maximum capacity and may be still discharging a lot of water, but that's going to stop pretty soon, we need as much water as we can get. While we havent been delayed or inconvenienced on the Douro (other than one very wet, damp mid-March sailing), but we have experienced both high and low water events on all stretches of the Danube, the Rhine, the Main, and even the Mekong, which was swollen to an unbelievable height during a cruise a few years back that resulted in messy disembarkations at every port of call. This is considered important to the archaeological pre-historic patrimony, and it has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The drought is mainly on south of Portugal, albeit it hit all country. You can have confidence in our experts' dedication to traveler safety, comfort, & providing a seamless trip. Note: this root is not linked by the linguists to the Proto-Celtic word *dubros 'water' which explains the river and place names Douvres in France, Dover in England and the Celtic common words: Old Irish dobur > Irish dobhar 'water', Welsh d(f)r (the /f/ being a trace of a former /b/), Cornish dur, Breton dour, the loss of /b/ being typical of Brythonic. For 112 kilometres (70mi), the river forms part of the national border line between Spain and Portugal, in a region of narrow canyons. Once you leave Porto, everything changes. Plan Far, Far Ahead, Porto (Leixoes) (Photo:ESB Professional/Shutterstock), Cruise ship in Port (Photo: joyfull/Shutterstock.com). [6] In Roman times, the river was personified as a god, Durius. On the Douro, this option is really only open to companies like CroisiEurope and Viking River Cruises that operate more than one vessel in the region. For up to date GENERAL overview of water levels in Europe please visit http://riverinfo.eu/ How do tides form? River cruise lines will typically attempt to keep your itinerary as operational as possible. We came to Porto (having made our own flight and hotel arrangements in September) with the specific of doing a day cruise to Pinhao and the train back. It was like purchasing a BMW and then when they car company dilivered the car it was a VW-- and then they say it is not our fault, the BMW you ordered was not available. It rises near Duruelo de la Sierra in the Spanish province of Soria, meanders south briefly then flows generally west through the northern part of the Meseta Central in Castile and Len into northern Portugal. A tiring but excellent dayhighly recommended. Does anybody buy into that theory?This was our fifth time with Viking, the others were very pleasant. When I last visited, in October 2012, there were many fish visible from the quay along the Ribera. If things are bad enough (like during the once-in-a-century flooding that occurred along the Danube in 2013), your river cruise might turn into a bus trip as the cruise line attempts to do its best to hit all the major sights and attractions along the way. The region around Pinho and So Joo da Pesqueira is considered to be the centre of port, with its quintas (or farms/estates) that extend along the steep slopes of the river valleys. Porto. Some of the places in which you'll dock are actually nothing much but piers with access to a place to board the motorcoaches. Vega de Terron is located about 125 miles east of Porto and is the most eastern cruise port on the Douro. Its most plentiful tributary (carrying a larger discharge than the Douro at their meeting) is the right-bank Esla river. Prochilo says that many river cruise boats are specifically built with flatter hulls to deal with low water levels. That's devastatingly low - at 40 centimeters, commercial shipping becomes unprofitable. Continue the affected itinerary by having guests swap ships typically, being bussed from one town to the next, where you will embark a sister-ship or similar vessel to continue the rest of your journey. Douro_eng. ft. home is a 2 bed, 1.0 bath property. We are booked to cruise the Duoro late June and hope the levels will have subsided by then. These changes are frustrating for travellers, many of whom only learn that there is a problem with their river cruise after arriving in Europe, ready to start their holiday. So pack in layers, and don't forget your bathing suit. If youre curious about Douro River cruises, heres everything you need to know. TIDES4FISHING | WATER TEMPERATURE IN PORTO (RIO DOURO) | 4 MARCH 2023, It is normal for waves to vary in height from one to the next. Tel. I looked it up; we call them grey mullet (not to be confused with my hair style). Most of the attractions are well off the river, requiring motorcoach transportation that averaged about 45 minutes per place. . (and has been for the last 20 years) We arrived in Lisbon and then received an Email notice from Viking that they were experiencing river problems and were sorry. You will find most of the itinerary highlights on all the lines. The boat crew were professional, helpful & friendly. On sounding boards like TripAdvisor, many disgruntled river cruisers wonder publicly why they werent informed prior to their international flights, suggesting that, given the choice, theyd opt to cancel and take a refund or another sailing date. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Vila Nova de Gaia: This city lies across the Douro from Porto, and it's where ships dock. Get inspired by Nik & Dusty's world-wide adventures! This usually involves putting guests up in hotels on the cruise lines dime and arranging for coach transportation and guides that werent originally needed. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. Part of the TTC Family of brands. Research the Douro Rivers Weather & Dress for the Occasion. This region is generally semi-arid plains, with wheat and in some places, especially near Aranda de Duero, with vineyards, in the Ribera del Duero wine region. Albert Dauzat linked this river name to a Pre-Celtic hydronymic root *dor- which is well attested in Western Europe: in France Doire, Doron, Douron, etc. [6] The meaning of this element is however unknown. The city, home to about 230,000 residents, is also known for its historic Old and New cathedrals (Renaissance and Gothic, respectively), which sit side by side. +31 (0) 318 660 910, E-mail: [emailprotected], Wetlands International-European Association, Mundo J, The times reflected in the tidal table for Porto (Rio Douro) are predictions valid as references for, TIDES4FISHING | TIDE TABLE FOR PORTO (RIO DOURO) | MARCH 2023, Moonrise and moonset in Porto (Rio Douro) for the entire 2023. Fortunately, the, You wont find any Douro valley cruises that travel in. The 750 sq. At a press conference on July 23rd, the Douro Vivo Network launched seven studies providing new information on the Douro river basin ecosystem. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Solstice vs. Millennium Class on Celebrity Cruises, Expert Tips for Choosing the Best Shore Excursions, Countries That Require Visas for a Cruise, The World's Best Beaches to Visit on a Cruise, The Pros and Cons of a Port-Intensive Cruise, Mystery Cruises: What They Are and What to Expect, 10 Things You Should Never Do on a Cruise Line Private Island, 48 Hours in Brisbane Before or After a Cruise, How To Cope With Cruising's Pause? One of the benefits of a mostly rural itinerary is that you're not cruising through industrial regions. We can compare these levels with the maximum high tide recorded in the tide tables for Porto (Rio Douro) which is of 4.2 m and a minimum height of 0.3 m. The following graph shows the progression of the tidal coefficient in the month of March of 2023.These values give us a rough idea of the tidal amplitude in Porto (Rio Douro), forecast in March. Whether a river has high or low water levels is something youre unlikely to consider when planning your river cruise. +31 (0) 318 660 910, [emailprotected] Example: We traveled 1 1/2 hours by bus over winding roads to visit a palace where we had a half hour tour and then drove another 1 1/2 hour bus drive back to the boat. At noon the tidal coefficient increases to 69. But bear in mind that this tidal amplitude may be greatly affected by the weather and you should also consult the weather forecast in Porto, the wind in Porto and the surf forecast in Porto before you go fishing. Having been on the Douro in early April during a period of higher-than-average water levels that prevented river cruise vessels from sailing for a short period, one thing passengers repeatedly . Dating back to the Roman Empire, it's first and foremost a university town since the 12th century. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Douro River cruises offer travelers the perfect opportunity to segue from buzzy Porto on the Atlantic coast to Portugals pastoral wine region. Thus, river cruise ships have a very narrow margin in which to operate; a sweet spot where the water isnt so low that the hull touches bottom, and not so high that bridges and overhead obstructions become impassable. That's devastatingly low - at 40. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/Douro-River. On the Douro, this option is really only open to companies like CroisiEurope and Viking River Cruises that operate more than one vessel in the region. Salamanca: An absolute highlight of a Douro cruise, Salamanca, northwest of Madrid, is one of the most gorgeous cities in Spain. The Douro's last five dams are in Portugal, and allow for navigation: Pocinho, Valeira, Rgua, Carrapatelo, and CrestumaLever dams. Most of the ships that ply the Douro have small swimming pools on their sun decks. The first two charts have "height (m)" on the left. This was a big disappointment and was preventable on their part by honest and better communication. Can highly recommend Barracouda Tours at the quayside at Gaia, bookable at Tourist offices for a wonderful day cruise, returning to Porto by train.