Famous Dams in India and Abroad

7/21/2019 Famous Dams in India and Abroad

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"Famous dams in India and abroad"

The Dams and Pools are most beneficial for irrigation and attraction for tourists all over the world.Such big water reservoirs have impact on rivers, environment, forest, wildlife around the area andthe local people. The environmental effects of dams are because of the construction and its mode of

operation. Such reservoirs are also useful for some species like cold water fish but it may adverselyimpact on forests, wetlands and wildlife and loss of plants and animals.

Advantages of huge Dams: rom the start of human life, man has been constructing dams andreservoirs to store surplus river waters available during wet periods and utili!e the same duringlean periods. The dams and reservoirs play dual role of harnessing the river waters for socio"economic development. Dams and reservoirs contribute considerably to fulfil the basic humanneeds as water for drinking and industrial use, #rrigation, lood control, $ydro power generation,#nland navigation, and %ecreation.

Dams in India:

&. The Tehri Dam is a multi"purpose rock and earth"fill bank dam on the 'hagirathi %iver nearTehri in (ttarakhand, #ndia. #t is the world)s fifth and Asia)s largest multidimensional dampro*ect.#t is the main dam of the Tehri $ydro Development +orporation td. and the Tehrihydroelectric comple-. The pro*ect design of this dam was completed in &/0.The Tehri damis sited in the +entral $imalayan Seismic 1ap, a ma*or geologic fault !one. This region wasthe location of a 2.3 magnitude earth4uake in 5ctober &&, with an epicentre 67 kilometres877 mi9 from the location of the dam.The dam is a 02 metres 836 ft9 high rock and earth"fillembankment dam. #ts length is 6/6 metres 8&,332 ft9, crest width 0 metres 822 ft9, and basewidth &,&03 metres 87,/& ft9. The dam creates a reservoir of 0.2 cubic kilometres 80,&,acre;


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fishery and wildlife conservation along with electricity generation. The concrete gravity damhas its ma-imum height that is &m. The reservoir made by %ihand dam is known as 1ovind'allabh Pant 81'P9 reservoir. #ts height is 0 ft, length: 72C ft, Type: +oncrete 1ravity dam.#t is constructed in (ttar Pradesh and #nstalled capacity is 7 >?. This dam is connectedwith the ( P. power grid and the 5bra hydel power station of mw which utilises tail"racewaters of the %ihand turbines and with the 5bra thermal power station of 06 mw.The @anpur

thermal power station has also been connected with the %ihand 8installed capacity 2C mw9.The power is utilised in eastern part of (ttar Pradesh in an area stretching from 'ahraich,@anpur to 'allia in the east.

C. Hirakud Damis a multipurpose huge pro*ect built across river >ahanadi at about &6. @m.upstream of Sambalpur town in the state of 5rissa, #ndia. Sir $owthrone ewis, laid thefoundation of this dam on &6th >arch &C2.This pro*ect was officially inaugurated by the firstPrime >inister of independent #ndia, Pandit awaharlal Behru on &7th anuary &6/.$irakudDam is the longest man"made dam in the world, about &2 mi 802 km9 in length. $irakud Damis a comple- construction of earth, concrete and masonry. The >ain Dam has, length of C.3@m., spans between hills amdungri on left and +handidungri on the right. The Dam isbordered by 0&. @m. long earthen dykes both on left and right sides to close the low saddlesbeyond the abutment hills. #t has the distinction of being the longest dam in Asia, 06.3 @m.

long with Dam and Dykes taken together. #t has also the rare distinction of forming the biggestartificial lake in Asia with a reservoir spread of /C7. @ms.at full reservoir level. $irakud Damintercepts 37,C S4.@m. 870,0 s4.miles9 of >ahanadi catchment .The reservoir has a livestorage of C,307 >.+um8present9 with gross storage of 6,32 >.+um 8present9.

6. Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is the world)s largest stonework dam anda multipurpose pro*ect,consist of two main canals, one each on either flank of the river. #t is built across @rishna%iver in Bagar*una Sagar, Balgonda District of Andhra Pradesh, #ndia, between &66 and&2/. The dam contains the Bagar*una Sagar reservoir with a capacity of up to &&,C/0 millioncubic metres. The dam is C ft 8&6 m9 tall and &.2 km long with 02 gates which are C0 ft 8&7m9 wide and C6 ft 8&C m9 tall. Bagar*una Sagar was the original in the series of biginfrastructure pro*ects began for the 1reen %evolution in #ndia.The pro*ect is very useful forfarmers in the districts of Balgonda, 1untur, @rishna, Prakasam and @hammam. The rightcanal 8a.k.a. awahar canal9 is 07 km long and irrigates &.&&7 million acres 8C,6 kmFG9 ofland. The left canal 8a.k.a. al 'ahadur Shastri canal9 is 06 km long and irrigates .70 millionacres 83 kmFG9 of land in Balgonda and @hammam districts of Telangana region. Thepro*ect changed the financial system of these districts. 60 villages were covered in water and0C people were affected. The transfer of the people was completed by 0/. The Damhas a gorgeous scenery and looks outstandingly scenic. The turbines are located on theBalgonda side 8pylon colony9 of the river and even on the right side 8guntur side9 of the river8vi*ayapuri south9. There are tours available to see the turbines in action. Sprawling over anarea of 2, s4 km.

2. The Indira Sagar Damis a multipurpose ma*or pro*ect of >adhya Pradesh on the Barmada%iver at Barmadanagar in the @handwa district of >adhya Pradesh in #ndia. The Pro*ect

foresees construction of a 0 m high and 267 m long concrete gravity dam. #t provides#rrigation in &,07 s4uare kilometres of land with annual production of 0/ million units in thedistricts of @handwa and @hargone in >adhya Pradesh and power generation of & >?installed capacity 83-&069. The reservoir of &0,0,, m7 8,3,/& acre;


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3. The Bhavanisagar Dam:#t is also known as ower 'havani Dam which is located on the'havani %iver between >ettupalayam and Sathyamangalam in Irode District, Tamil Badu,South #ndia. The dam is located around &2 km 8. mi9 west to Satyamangalam and 76 km800 mi9 from 1obichettipalayam, 72 km 800 mi9 north"east to >ettuppalayam and / km 8C7mi9 from Irode and /6 km 8C/ mi9 from +oimbatore.The dam is considered to be among thelargestearthen dams in the nation. The dam is used to redirect water to the ower 'havani

Pro*ect +anal.

. The Koyna Hydroelectric Projectis ma*or completed hydroelectric power plant of #ndia. #t isa multifaceted pro*ect that comprises of total four dams with the largest Dam built on @oyna%iver known as @oyna Dam. The total #nstalled capacity of the pro*ect is &,0 >?. #ts $eightis 77 ft., ength is 0,2C3 ft, and type is %ubble"+oncrete dam. The pro*ect consists of Cstages of power generation. Due to the pro*ect)s electricity generating potential the @oyna%iver is considered as the life line of >aharashtra.

&. Tungaadra damis built across the Tungabhadra %iver, a branch of the @rishna %iver. Thedam is near the town of $ospet in @arnataka. #t is a multipurpose dam that helps in irrigation,electricity generation, and flood control. This is a *oint pro*ect of erstwhile $yderabad stateand erstwhile >adras Presidency when the creation was started. ater, it became a *ointpro*ect of @arnataka and Andhra Pradesh after its completion in &67. Tungabadra dam is0CC& meters long and its height is 7.73 meters.

&&. The Idukki Damis situated in @erala, #ndia. The #dukki $ydroelectric Pro*ect is the biggesthydrolectric Pro*ect and it is a &23.& m 866C ft9 tall arch dam. The dam stands between thetwo mountains @uravanmala 8379 m and @urathimala 8069m. #t was constructed and isowned by the @erala State Ilectricity 'oard. #t supports a /3 >? hydroelectric powerstation. #t is built on the Periyar %iver, in the ravine between the @uravan and @urathi $ills in@erala, #ndia. At &2/.23 metres, it is one of the highest arch dams in Asia and third tallest damin #ndia.

&0. The!ettur Damis one of the huge dam in #ndia which was constructed in &7C. #t was built in

a gorge, where the @averi %iver enters the plains. The dam is one of the oldest in #ndia. Thetotal length of the dam is &,/ m 86,2 ft9.>ettur Dam has biggest and the most powergenerating capacity dam in Tamil Badu. >ettur Dam is very stunning place of sightseer, theriver is a magnificent site to e-plorer of the nature. #ts height is &0 ft., type is +oncrete Damand ocation inTamil Badu with #nstalled capacity of 70 >?.

&7. The Banasura Sagar Damis sited 0& km from @alpetta, in ?ayanad District of @erala in the?estern 1hats. #t is the biggest earthen dam in #ndia and the second largest in Asia. #timpounds the waters of the @aramanathodu, a tributary of the @abini %iver. #t attracts touristsand perfect place for picnic with a breath"taking view. The basin formed by the dam is dottedwith tiny islands enveloped in thick foliage, and with the 'anasura hill in the background,offers a superb view. Speed J pedal boats are available J are ma*or hits with tourists. Dam isat an altitude of 70 feet in the mist"clad hills of ?ayanad.

&C. Krishna Raja Sagara, also commonly known as @%S, is famous the dam. The dam is namedfor the ruler of the >ysore @ingdom, @rishnara*a ?odeyar #H.The @averi is one of the ma*orriver in #ndia and there is a amous and beautiful 'rindavan 1ardens attached to the dam, it)sa part of the @rishna %a*a Sagar Dam and is the most attractive gardens in >ysore and oneof best 1arden in #ndia. #ts height is &06 feet, ength is 7.6km, Type is >asonry Dam and#nstalled capacity is 0 >?.

&6. The Srisailam Damis a dam built across the @rishna %iver at Srisailam in the @urnool districtin the state of Andhra Pradesh in #ndia and is the second largest capacity hydroelectric pro*ectin the country. This pro*ect began in &2, initially as a power pro*ect, across the @rishna,near Srisailam in @urnool District, Andhra Pradesh and completed twenty years later in &3&.

The dam was constructed in a deep gorge in the Ballamala $ills, 7 m 83 ft9 above sealevel. #t is 6&0 m 8&,23 ft9 long, &C6 m 8C/2 ft9 high and has &0 radial crest gates. #t has areservoir of 3 km0 87& s4 mi9.


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&2. "heruthoni Damis the huge concrete gravity dam in @erala, nestled near to #dukki arch dam.#t is the third highest dam in #ndia with a C6C feet"high across %iver +heruthoni. #dukki is a hillstation in #ndia, popular for its wildlife treasure. +heruthoni dams opened to the public inconnection with the 5nam festival season. The height of 62 feet brought a thrillinge-perience and wonderful view of greens valley. #ts $eight is C6 feet, length is 07 feet,Type is +oncrete 1ravity Dam and #nstalled capacity is70 >?.

&/. Bisal#ur Damis the most popular dam of state of %a*asthan. #t is located in Tonk District of%a*asthan. The dam is built across the 'anas %iver between two mountains. The largest damof %a*asthan, 'isalpur with a height of 7m is one of the honour of %a*asthan. Tonk damattract vast variety of birds local as well as migratory. #ts height is &7 ft., ength is &337 ft,Type is 1ravity Dam and #nstalled capacity is &/0 >?.

&3. !aithon Damis constructed on the river of 'arakar located at >aithon and is a large dam intribal state harkhand. >aithon Dam is one of the most popular dams in harkhand and oneof the most unbeaten multipurpose pro*ects in #ndia. This dam particularly designed for floodcontrol and generates high electric power. There is an underground power station. #t is auni4ue dam in South Iast Asia. >aithon Dam is the largest reservoir in the Damodar Halley.#ts height is &26 ft, ength is &6,/&0 ft, and type is +oncrete cum Iarthen dam. #t is based on'arakar %iver, ocation is harkhand and #nstalled capacity is of 2 >?.

&. !alankara Damis constructed across Thodupu!ha %iver, 2 @m from Thodupu!ha forirrigation purpose as a part of >uvattupu!ha Halley #rrigation Pro*ect. The tail water from>oolamattom Power house is stored here. The banks of the %eservoir can be developed to abeautiful tourist appeal. The irrigation Department plans to landscape the dam and also set upa garden to enhance sightseeing.

$amous Dams in %orld:

&. Three &orges Dam in "hina:The Three 1orges Dam is situated in the Kiling district in the$ubei province of +hina. #t is a hydroelectric dam spanning the Kangt!e %iver which is

considered to be the longest river in +hina. Dam consists of 70 turbines with an installedcapacity of 00,6 >?. #t is the world)s largest power station. 'uilding of dam was debatableamong e-perts as it was dangerous and these e-perts cautioned that the heavy weight ofdam might change +entral +hina)s geology and was likely to displace a large humanpopulation and archaeological sites of historic importance. This dam was formerly aimed toincrease the transport capacity of the Kangt!e %iver decreasing its flood potential andgenerating much"needed electricity. ?hile the +hinese government asserts that this damcontributes a lot for economic, social and environmental success because it has displaced &.7million people, caused notable ecological changes, and has increased the danger oflandslides.

0. 's%an Dam:Another popular dam in the world is the Aswan Dam, also known as $igh Dam,is situated across the Bile %iver in Aswan, Igypt. #t is the first dam designed by Sir ?illiam?illcocks, and its building started in &33 ending in &0. This dam has great role in boostingthe agriculture and economy of Igypt. Iarlier, the agriculture and economy of Igyptdepended upon the Bile %iver which played a dual role. #n times of fairly high waters, the riverbrought fertile soil and nutrients rendering a large area of land highly fertile and productive. #nthe days of very high, the river displaced a large population and devastated many areas in itspath. #n the low days, the land was deprived of irrigation with conse4uent low"yielding cropsand famine. Structure the Aswan Dam has optimised the situation by preventing floods and byensuring a constant water supply by virtue of a raised level of water in the dam. %ussia andAmerica assisted the Igyptian government to construct the Aswan dam.

7. Hoover Dam:$oover Dam is named after President $erbert $oover. This dam was initiallyknown as 'oulder Dam after the name of the labour colony built in the surrounding area of the

dam for the labour. #t is situated in the 'lack +anyon of the +olorado %iver near 'oulder +ityat the borders of the (.S. states of Bevada and Ari!ona. #t was well understood theimportance of the dam to control flooding and regulate irrigation and generate electricity.


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+ongress approved its construction in &03. 'uilding of the arch"gravity dam began in early&7&, and construction of the dam was completed on >arch &, &72. $oover Dam is greatattraction of tourists and is visited by more than one million people every year.

C. The Itai#u Dam:This Dam is named after the island #taipu that e-isted at the location of thedam. The dam is owned usually by 'ra!il and Paraguay. #t is located about &6 kilometers to

the north of the riendship 'ridge on the Panama %iver at the border of 'ra!il and Paraguay.#n terms of its operating productivity, it is the biggest hydroelectric dam, while in terms ofinstalled capacity. #t is ne-t only to the largest dam in the world, and the three gorges Damwith a 00,6 >? installed capacity. The installed capacity of the #taipu Dam is &C, >?.The dam is provided with 0 generators of which & generate at 6$L for Paraguay while theother & generate 2 $L for 'ra!il.

6. The &ordon Dam:This dam is an arch dam built on the 1ordon %iver in Tasmania, Australia.#t is &0 meters long and &C meters high. #t is the fifth tallest dam in Australia, and water in itfalls from &37 meters into its 7 turbines of &CC >? to generate C70 >? power. This meetsabout &7 percent of the electricity re4uirements of Tasmania. The 1ordon Dam was plannedby the chief engineer Dr. Sergio 1uidici. The 1ordon Dam has created ake 1ordon on theupper side of the 1ordon %iver in Southwest Tasmania, Australia. The surface area of ake1ordon is &6 s4uare miles, and its storage capacity is 7. cubic miles.

2. (ake )yrn%y Dam:This dam is located in >ontgomeryshire, Powys, ?ales. This e-clusive,stone dam was planned by Dr. 1eorge Deacon and constructed in the &33s. #ts structurestarted in &33& and was completed in &333. #t was initially intended to supply fresh water toiverpool and >erseyside. The dam is built of big blocks of ?elsh slate. The dam is CCmeters high, 76/ meters long, and 7 meters wide at the base. #t has 06 arches and 0 smalltowers. The site of the dam is designated as a Bational Bature %eserve a site of specialscientific interest and a special area of conservation.

/. Tarela Damis the biggest, earth"filled dam in the world and the second most capacious bystructure. #t was built in &/C on the #ndus %iver at about 6 kilometers from #slamabad in the

$a!ara District of the @hyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. #t is &C3 meters high andforms Tarbela %eservoir having a surface area of about / s4uare miles. #t was designed tostore the #ndus %iver)s water for irrigation, flood control, and generation of hydroelectricpower. #t has &C generators. The source of the #ndus %iver is the glacial melting water fromthe $imalayas which brings a lot of rock sediment with it. Taking into consideration the currentyearly rate of sedimentation, it is estimated the dam will have a useful lifespan of about 3years until 02.

3. !ratinje Dam:This dam is a concrete arch dam built on the Piva %iver in >ontenegro, asouth eastern Iuropean country. The dam was designed by Inergopro*ekt, and theconstruction was completed in &/6. #t created ake Piva covering a &0.6 s4uare kilometresarea. The dam is 00 meters high, 023 meters long, and 72 meters thick at its base. #t is oneof the highest dams in Iurope. The foundations of the dam are 73 meters deep and contain

30, cubic meters of concrete and 6, tons of steel. #t has 7 turbines and each cangenerate &0 >? electricity.

. &len "anyon Dam:This dam is constructed on the +olorado %iver near the town of Page innorthern Ari!ona, (nited States. The intent of constructing the dam was to control the flow ofthe upper +olorado %iver basin to the lower side. The generation of hydroelectricity was alsothe main ob*ective. The dam created ake Powell which is the second largest lake in thecountry. +onstruction of the dam started in &62 and continued until &22. The dam was onthe edge of collapse under pressure from heavy flooding, but the disaster was avoided.+onstruction of the dam has impacted the natural balance of the region.

&. "ontra Dam:This dam is also known as the Her!asca Dam. #t was constructed on the

Her!asca %iver of Ticino, Swit!erland. #ts construction started in &2& and was completed in&26. The dam is 00 meters high, 73 meters long, and covers CC,6 s4uare meters area.#t is the fourth tallest dam in Swit!erland. The dam is looked after by Her!asca SA. #t is a


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popular site for bungee *umping which is a 4uite risky and thrilling sport involving *umpingfrom a high place while tied with an elastic cord causing a free fall and a rebound. +ontraDam became particularly popular for this sport after a stuntman *umped from it in the openingscene of the &6 movie The 1olden Iye.

&&. *roville Dam:This dam is an earth fill embankment dam on the eather %iver east of the city

of 5roville, +alifornia in the (nited States. #t is at // feet 807 m9 high, and tallest dam in the(.S. This dam serves mainly for water supply, hydroelectricity generation and flood control.The dam holds ake 5roville, the second largest man"made lake in the state of +alifornia,capable of storing more than 7.6 million acre"feet 8C.C km79 and is located in the SierraBevada foothills east of the Sacramento Halley. #t was constructed by the +aliforniaDepartment of ?ater %esources. 5roville Dam is one of the key features of the +aliforniaState ?ater Pro*ect. +onstruction was started in &2&, and despite numerous hurdlesencountered during its construction, that include multiple floods and a ma*or train wreck onthe rail line used to transport materials to the dam site, the embankment was topped out in&2/ and the entire pro*ect was ready for use in &23. The dam began to generate electricityafter completion of the Idward $yatt Pump"1enerating Plant, then the country)s largestunderground power station.

&0. +gu,on dam:This dam is a hydroelectric dam on the +reuse %iver in central rance.+onstruction took place from &00 to &02 and, at the time, was the largest dam in Iurope.Igu!on Damis 2& metres high and 7 metres across, with the thickness varying from 6Cmetres at the base to 6 metres at the top. The water behind the dam creates the Igu!on ake8also known as the +hambon ake9 which, at 7&0 hectares, is the largest body of water in theregion, and is popular with water sports enthusiasts. Ilectricity generation is via si- valves,with a power of &0 >? each, giving an annual electricity production of && million k?h.$umans are always in touch with nature to get benefit. The construction of dams isharnessing natural forces. Dams offer a particularly good prospect to study the potentialdis*unction between the distributional and productivity implications of a public policy.Supporters of big dam construction stress the role of large dams to reduce dependency onrainfall and enabling irrigation, providing water and hydropower. 5n the contrary, challengersargue that while these benefits may be en*oyed by downstream populations, upstreampopulation may be benefit only from the creation activity and potentially from increasedfinancial activity around the reservoir.

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Famous Dams in India and Abroad