Victoria Dam (Sri Lanka)
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| Victoria Dam (Sri Lanka) | |
.JPG) The Victoria Dam and Reservoir |
|
| Impounds | Mahaweli River |
|---|---|
| Locale | Teldeniya,  Sri Lanka. |
| Length | 520 metres (1,706 ft) |
| Height | 122 metres (400 ft) |
| Width (at base) | 6 m (20 ft) to 25 m (82 ft) |
| Construction began | August 14, 1978 |
| Reservoir information | |
| Creates | Victoria Reservoir |
| Capacity | 722,000 m3 (25,497,189 cu ft) |
| Catchment area | 1,869 km2 (722 sq mi) |
| Surface area | 2270 Hectares |
| Geographical Data | |
| Coordinates | 7°14′39″N 80°43′51″E / 7.24417°N 80.73083°E |
| Maintained by | The Mahaweli Project |
The Victoria Dam is the largest hydroelectric dam in Sri Lanka. With three 70MW Francis Turbines, it holds a maximum generating capacity of 210MW, which plays a significant role on the national grid. At a length of 520 metres (1,706 ft), and a crest-height of 122 m (400 ft), the dam ranks as the tallest and widest dam in the country, while possessing the largest power plant as well. The dam is located across the Mahaweli River immediately upstream of the Victoria Falls rapids.
[edit] History
The construction of the dam was ceremonially commissioned on the 14th of August 1978, by the former President Jayewardene. The dam first operated started on the 12th of April 1985, and is still operating today. The main contractors were the Belfour Beatty Nuttal, responsible for the dam construction, and the Costan International, who is responsible for the construction of the power station. The dam is now managed by the Mahaweli Project, which is headed by the Ceylon Electricity Board along with the Ministry of Power and Energy.
[edit] Specifications
This Double Curvation Arch Dam consists of eight radial gates, each 12.5 m (41 ft) wide and 12.5 m (41 ft) high, which will automatically open when the water levels are high. The dam's gates, which needs power only to close, won an award for Innovative Design in Civil Engineering by the Institution of Civil Engineers. The total effective width of the spill-gates is 100 m (328 ft), which allows a maximum discharge capacity of 8,200 m3 (289,580 cu ft) of water per second. Two low-level sluices are constructed at the reservoir bed across the dam to pass silts which may accumulate behind the dam.
The dam is located in the deep valley of the Mahaweli River, just above the Victoria Falls rapids. The catchment area of the river at the dam site is approximately 730 sq mi (1,891 km2). The reservoir feeds three Francis Turbines of 210MW in total, which rotates at approximately 333 rev/min at optimal capacity.
