Tagus

Tagus (Span. Tajo), the largest river of the Spanish Peninsula, rises on the frontier of the provinces of Guadalajara and Teruel, on the western slopes of the Muela de San Juan. It first flows north-west, then curves to the south-west, and flows mainly in that direction past Aranjuez, Toledo, and Alcantara, and in Portugal, Abrantes, Santarem, and Lisbon, entering the Atlantic about 10 miles lower down. Below Salvaterra it divides into two arms, the western Tejo Novo and the eastern Mar de Pedro, which form a delta, the Lezirias do Tejo. Both fall into the noble Bay of Lisbon, which turns to the west and joins the sea by the Entrada do Tejo. It is navigable to Abrantes, from Santarem for steamers, even ocean-going vessels. Its total length is 566 miles; its drainage area includes 31,700 sq. m.