Quarteira River

Quarteira River
Quarteira River near the Acudes do Castelo, Paderne
Country	Portugal
Region	Algarve
District	Faro
Municipality	Albufeira
Primary source	Algibre River
- location	Paderne, Algarve
- elevation	50 m (164 ft)
- coordinates	37°10′51.9″N 8°12′27.8″W / 37.181083°N 8.207722°W / 37.181083; -8.207722
Secondary source	Alte River
- location	Paderne
- elevation	50 m (164 ft)
- coordinates	37°10′51.9″N 8°12′27.8″W / 37.181083°N 8.207722°W / 37.181083; -8.207722
Mouth	Into the Atlantic at Quarteira
- coordinates	37°04′28″N 8°07′32″W / 37.074355°N 8.125467°W / 37.074355; -8.125467Coordinates: 37°04′28″N 8°07′32″W / 37.074355°N 8.125467°W / 37.074355; -8.125467
Mouth of the Quarteira River at Quarteira

River Quarteira is a small river in the Portuguese region of the Algarve. The river begins at the conflux of two tributary rivers a little north of the village of Paderne. The tributary rivers are the River de Alte and the River de Algibre.

The Quarteira is one of a number of small rivers in the central Algarve which make up the water ecosystem known as the Querença – Silves Aquifer System.

A short distance from the confluence of the Quarteira the river passes the village of Paderne and then snakes in a large loop around a hill which is topped by the remains of the Moorish Castle of Paderne. Below the castle are the remnants of two watermills. The first is to the Acudes do Castelo which is in the north-west valley below the castle and the second watermill is called Alfarrobeiro and is south of the castle. Next to this watermill stands a Bridge built by the Romans. The Roman bridge is location on the rocky peninsular bend and was of strategic importance to the Romans, as it controlled the ancient Roman road Via Lusitanorum.