Roxburgh Dam
| Roxburgh Dam | |
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 Roxburgh Dam machine hall |
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| Location | Central Otago, New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 45°28′33″S 169°19′21″E / 45.475811°S 169.322555°ECoordinates: 45°28′33″S 169°19′21″E / 45.475811°S 169.322555°E |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Concrete gravity dam |
| Height | 76 m (249 ft) |
| Length | 358 m (1,175 ft) |
| Crest width | 10.7 m (35 ft) |
| Base width | 61 m (200 ft) |
| Impounds | Clutha River / Mata-Au |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Lake Roxburgh |
| Surface area | 6 km2 (2.3 sq mi) |
| Power station | |
| Owner(s) | Contact Energy |
| Commission date | 1956 - 1962 |
| Turbines | 8 |
| Installed capacity | 320 MW |
| Annual generation | 1,650 GWh |
The Roxburgh Dam is the earliest of the large hydroelectric projects in the southern South Island of New Zealand. It lies across the Clutha River / Mata-Au, some 160 kilometres (99 mi) from Dunedin, some 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) to the north of the town of Roxburgh. The settlement of Roxburgh Hydro lies close to the western edge of the dam.
The dam was constructed by Holland, Hannen & Cubitts between 1949 and 1956, and the power station was commissioned over the period 1956-1962. The generating capacity was increased during the early 1960s, and today the eight-unit power station has a capacity of 320 megawatts operated by Contact Energy.[1]
Lake Roxburgh, the lake formed behind the dam, extends for nearly 30 kilometres (19 mi) towards the town of Alexandra.
Contents |
[edit] Gallery
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Spillway
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Outdoor view, cleary showing the eight penstocks
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] Further reading
- Martin, John E, ed. (1991). People, Power and Power Stations: Electric Power Generation in New Zealand 1880 - 1990. Wellington: Bridget Williams Books Ltd and Electricity Corporation of New Zealand. pp. 316 pages.. ISBN 0-908912-16-1.
- Reilly, Helen (2008). Connecting the Country: New Zealand’s National Grid 1886 - 2007. Wellington: Steele Roberts. pp. 376 pages.. ISBN 978-1-877448-40-9.
- Sheridan, Marion (1995). Dam Dwellers – End of an Era. Twizel: Sheridan Press. pp. 392 pages.. ISBN 0-473-03402-6.
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