The reservoir features a massive original Roman dam wall that stands approximately 21 meters high.
The dam was built with a thick clay core to ensure water tightness, a sophisticated engineering technique for the 1st or 2nd century AD.
The water was transported to the city of Emerita Augusta via the Los Milagros Aqueduct.
The site includes remnants of an ancient tower used for managing water discharge.
The reservoir covers an area of approximately 72 hectares when at full capacity.
The lake has been repurposed from an ancient engineering marvel into a primary recreational hub for the local Badajoz population.
Lake Proserpina is a Roman-era reservoir located near Mérida, Spain, featuring an original 425-meter-long dam wall that remains largely intact after nearly two millennia. The structure, known as the Embalse de Proserpina, served as one of the two primary water supply sources for the ancient Roman colony of Emerita Augusta. It is supported by a massive earthen embankment faced with granite masonry and reinforced by concrete buttresses. The reservoir occupies a depression in the landscape and is fed by the Las Pardillas stream. Today, the site functions as a popular recreational area for swimming, kayaking, and sunbathing, particularly during the hot summer months. The archaeological site is part of the UNESCO World Heritage designation of the Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida. It features a distinct sluice tower which was used to regulate water flow into the underground aqueduct system.
From the top of the Roman dam embankment looking down toward the water and the surrounding landscape.
Bring water shoes if you plan to swim, as the lake bed can be pebbly.
Visit during the shoulder season to avoid the intense heat of the Extremaduran summer.
Walk along the top of the Roman dam to see the contrast between the modern recreational beach and the ancient stone engineering.
Do not swim near the dam's sluice gates or structural intake areas for safety reasons.
Respect the archaeological areas by not climbing on the ancient masonry; keep the beach area clean.
