Támesis

Támesis, in Portuguese, refers to the river known in English as the Thames, a major watercourse in southern England. The Támesis rises in the Cotswolds, at Thames Head in Gloucestershire, and flows generally southeast for about 346 kilometers (215 miles) to the North Sea, entering the sea via the Thames Estuary. It passes by or through several towns and cities, including Oxford (where the upper stretch is locally called the Isis), Reading, Windsor, Maidenhead, Henley-on-Thames, and London. The river’s lower reaches are tidal, with tides influencing the river up to Teddington Lock, after which the river runs largely freshwater toward its source.

Historically, the Támesis has been a central artery for commerce and transportation. The Port of London grew up on its tidal waters, and today the river remains navigable for commercial and leisure vessels to the estuary. The river’s management includes locks, weirs, and tidal barriers, notably the Thames Barrier in the southeast of London, which protects the city from flood surges. Numerous bridges span the river in London and its suburbs, among them Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge.

Ecologically, the Támesis supports a range of habitats and species and has undergone significant restoration and pollution reduction since the 19th century. The river is a defining feature of southern England, shaping settlement, industry, and culture. The name Támesis derives from Latin Tamesis; in English the river is called Thames, and the Portuguese form Támesis reflects this ancestry.