A few kilometres south of the mine, the Chança river has been dammed into a reservoir and the old loading quay at Pomarão has become an unlikely summer beach destination. Praia do Peso is the main swimming area on this stretch — a broad sandy bank with calm brown water, backed by cork oaks and without a hotel or resort in sight.
It is busy on summer weekends with Portuguese families from Beja and the Algarve who have discovered it as an alternative to the crowded coast. The drive down from the mine through the Alentejo scrub is half the pleasure. There is no infrastructure to speak of, so bring water and food.