Guadiana River: electronic navigation charts available for free download on the IH website

The first nautical charts of the river series of the Guadiana Waterway were produced by the Hydrographic Institute (IH), under Project GUAD20 - Guadiana, Navigable Natural Heritage", which ran from 2017 to 2021, in partnership with the Public Ports Agency of Andalusia (APPA - promoting entity) and the Directorate General of Natural Resources, Security and Maritime Services (DGRM). The project co-funded by the Operational Programme of Cross Border Cooperation Portugal-Spain (POCTEP INTERREG V-A 2014-2020) has finally restored the conditions considered necessary for safe navigation on the international stretch of the Guadiana River between Vila Real de S.to António and Pomarão, as was the case between 1858 and 1965, when the river bottom allowed the safe flow of ore from the mines of São Domingos by river.

As part of the project, several hydrographic surveys were carried out by the IH along the entire international stretch and the physical-chemical characterization of sediments between Alcoutim and Pomarão; the DGRM stimulated the regularization of the bottoms in silted areas that were a danger to navigation, and from the junction of all bathymetric information with the hydrographic data updated in the intervened areas, it was possible to readjust and redefine the route of the navigation channel (Alcoutim to Pomarão) and proceed with the implementation of the respective marking through the placement of beacons, lights and targets; in turn, the APPA proceeded with the construction and improvement of various existing port infrastructures in the international stretch. The project culminated with the publication of the river series folio for the Guadiana River, established and produced by the IH (the entity responsible for the production of national nautical cartography).

The electronic river navigation charts (Inland) of the Guadiana waterway are available on the IH website and can be downloaded for free at http://www.hidrografico.pt/cart.guadiana.

PT76621: "Guadiana River - From the International Bridge to Alcoutim"

(made up of 8 cells from PT76621A to PT76621H)

PT76622: "Guadiana River - From Alcoutim to Pomarão".

(consisting of 4 cells, from WP76622A to WP76622D)

The respective paper nautical charts CN 26F21 and CN 26F22 can be purchased at Loja do Navegante (http://loja.hidrografico.pt/ln/).