Rio Bom/Rio Mau

In the first part of its course it is called the "Bom" river, as it has calmer waters. In the more agitated part, which gives it the name "Mau", the Cabreia waterfall stands out, 25 metres high, as does the smaller Minas do Braçal waterfall.

There are many stories shrouded in mystery that seek to explain the particularity of the river with two names, the legend and the imaginary.

Going back in history, the parish priest of Silva Escura, in 1732, called it "rio Mau", but also "rio das Presas" or "rio de Silva Escura". He categorised it as a "quiet course", with a few crags in between. Today we call them waterfalls, one of the most paradigmatic examples being the Cabreia waterfall, one of Sever do Vouga's and the country's tourist attractions. With a waterfall 25 metres high and dense, lush vegetation surrounding it, the Cabreia waterfall is not only a pleasant place to contemplate, but also a pleasant place to bathe. Further down where the river is called "Mau", the water rushes down again and a new, smaller waterfall emerges next to Minas do Braçal.

The stories and legends say that the river "Bom" becomes "Mau" as a result of accidents that occurred while working in the water mills. The only access routes, which were quite winding, and the irregularities of the riverbed, making it unsafe and dangerous, meant that several people lost their lives trying to cross it. However, the parish priest also said that, despite its low flow, people ventured into the river to fish for trout. This fishing continues to this day, especially between the Gretão bridge and the mouth.

On the other hand, it was with the water from the Mau river wells that the fields were watered and it was also near its waters that mills were built "which the farmers use to grind their millet". The Mau River supplied the water used in the Braçal Mining Complex, the first mining concession in the country. The Old Vagonette Line, or American Train Line, transported the lead ingots from Braçal to the River Vouga, following the valley of the River Mau to its mouth.

On its banks you can see lush flora and many species that feed in these woods, such as the blackbird, the great tit and the water blackbird.