Açude Cedro is a historic reservoir located in Quixadá, in the central sertão of Ceará, Brazil. With a storage capacity of 125 million cubic meters — equivalent to roughly 50,000 Olympic swimming pools — it is a substantial body of water set against the dramatic rocky landscape that characterizes the Quixadá region. The reservoir sits at the foot of striking granite monolith formations, including the prominent Galinha Choca rock formation, which frames the water and gives the area a distinctive visual character.

The reservoir holds considerable historical significance: it was the first major public water infrastructure project built in Brazil, conceived during the Imperial era as a response to the severe droughts that afflicted the northeastern sertão. Construction was designed by British engineer Jules Jean Revy beginning in 1882 and completed in 1906. The dam itself features ornamental ironwork railings and stone pillars along its crest, with the ironwork produced by the Scottish firm Walter Macfarlane and Co. The structure was listed as a heritage site by IPHAN in 1984 and has been included on Brazil's indicative list for UNESCO World Heritage status since 2015. The local DNOCS office, which administers the reservoir, is housed in a building on site.

For paddlers, canoe trips on the reservoir offer a way to experience the water and the surrounding monolithic rock formations from the surface. The dam's crest walkway provides views over the reservoir. Visitor amenities at the site are limited — there are no food stalls or developed tourist infrastructure, so paddlers should plan accordingly and bring their own supplies.

The reservoir faces challenges from irregular rainfall and high evaporation rates typical of the semi-arid sertão climate, which can affect water levels. These conditions are worth factoring into trip planning, as water levels may vary considerably depending on recent rainfall patterns in the region.