The Carrapatelo dam is located in the river Douro (km 64.50), on the border between the districts of Porto and Viseu, in the municipalities of Marco de Canaveses and Cinfães, respectively. Its construction began in 1965, completed in 1972 and inaugurated on June 18th, 1972 by the then President of the Republic, Admiral Américo Thomaz. It was the first hydroelectric enterprise to be built in the national section of the river Douro and has one of the largest floodgate in Europe, with a 35-meter drop.