Cerron Grande Hydroelectric Dam
| Cerrón Grande Hydroelectric Dam | |
|---|---|
| Official name | Central Hidroeléctrica Cerrón Grande |
| Location | Chalatenango (El Salvador) |
| Coordinates | 13°56′24.3″N 88°54′01.3″W / 13.940083°N 88.900361°WCoordinates: 13°56′24.3″N 88°54′01.3″W / 13.940083°N 88.900361°W |
| Opening date | 1976 |
| Operator(s) | CEL |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Lempa River |
| Height | 90 m |
| Length | 800 m |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Embalse Cerrón Grande |
| Total capacity | 2,180 million m³ |
| Surface area | 135 km² |
| Official name | Cerron Grande Reservoir |
| Designated | November 22, 2005 |
The Cerrón Grande Hydroelectric Dam (Spanish: Central Hidroeléctrica Cerrón Grande) spans the Lempa River 78 km north of San Salvador in the municipalities of Potonico, (Chalatenango) and Jutiapa (Cabañas) in El Salvador.
The concrete gravity dam has a height of 90 m and a length of 800 m. The dam's reservoir has a surface area of 135 km² and a capacity of 2,180 million m³.
The hydroelectric power plant was fitted with 2 x 67.5 MWe Francis turbines with a total capacity of 135 Mwe. Major maintenance work carried out between 2003-2007 included replacing the turbines with 2 x 85 MWe units with a total capacity of 170 MWe, which generate 488 GWh per year.
The Cerrón Grande reservoir (Spanish: Embalse Cerrón Grande), locally known as Suchitlán Lake, is the largest body of fresh water in El Salvador. In 2005, the reservoir and approximately 470 km2 (180 sq mi) of adjacent area was listed as a "Wetland of International Importance" under the Ramsar Convention. The area provides a habitat for large numbers of waterbird, duck and fish species.
Because of the construction of the Cerron Grande Hydroelectric Dam, over 13,000 people were displaced with many cantons or townships, caserios or hamlets, chuches, cemeteries, and over 20 significant archaeological sites being lost. in the process including Canton El Tablon and Canton San Juan in Suchitoto, Cuscatlan.
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