The dam takes its name from the nearby village of Alqueva.
This dam was a project dating back to the time of dictator Salazar. It was completed 50 years later.
The dam was primarily built to promote agriculture rather than electricity production. Indeed, the region was severely lacking the water needed for agricultural production.
The result was the largest artificial lake in Europe in an extremely dry region.
The village of Luz was submerged and rebuilt identically.