Gariep Dam
| Gariep Dam | |
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Gariep Dam
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 Location of Gariep Dam in South Africa
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| Official name | Gariep Dam |
| Location | Border of Eastern Cape and Free State, South Africa |
| Coordinates | 30°37′25.43″S 25°30′23.81″E / 30.6237306°S 25.5066139°ECoordinates: 30°37′25.43″S 25°30′23.81″E / 30.6237306°S 25.5066139°E |
| Construction began | 1965 |
| Opening date | 1971 |
| Owner(s) | Department of Water Affairs |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Arch-gravity dam |
| Impounds | Orange River |
| Height | 88 m (289 ft) |
| Length | 914 m (2,999 ft) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Gariep Dam Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 5,340,000 megalitres (5,340 hm3) |
| Surface area | 374 km2 (144 sq mi) |
| Power station | |
| Operator(s) | Eskom |
| Turbines | 4 x 90 MW (120,000 hp) |
| Installed capacity | 360 MW (480,000 hp) (max) |
| Annual generation | 889 GWh (3,200 TJ) |
| Gariep Dam bridge | |
|---|---|
| Carries | 14300 tons |
| Characteristics | |
| Width | Doubleway |
| Statistics | |
| Toll | None |
Gariep Dam is in South Africa, near the town of Norvalspont, bordering the Free State and Eastern Cape provinces. Its primary purpose is for irrigation, domestic and industrial use as well as for power generation.
The Gariep Dam was originally named the Hendrik Verwoerd Dam after the first prime minister of the Republic of South Africa Hendrik Verwoerd on its commission in 1971. However, after the end of apartheid, the Verwoerd name was considered unsuitable. The name was officially changed to Gariep Dam on 4 October 1996. Gariep is Khoekhoe for "river", the original name of the Orange River.
The dam is on the Orange River about 48 kilometres (30 mi) north-east of Colesberg and 208 kilometres (129 mi) south of Bloemfontein. It is in a gorge at the entrance to the Ruigte Valley some 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) east of Norvalspont.
The wall is 88 m high and has a crest length of 914 m and contains approximately 1.73 million m³ of concrete. The Gariep Dam is the largest storage reservoir in South Africa. In South African English, 'dam' refers both to the structure and the lake it impounds. Gariep Dam has a total storage capacity of approximately 5,340,000 megalitres (5,340 hm3) and a surface area of more than 370 square kilometres (140 sq mi) when full. The hydro-electrical power station houses four 90 MW generators, giving a maximum output of 360 MW of electricity at a water flow rate of 800 m³/s.
The structure is a concrete gravity-arch hybrid dam. This design was chosen as the gorge is too wide for a complete arch so flanking walls form gravity abutments to the central arch.
It was built by Dumez, a French construction company.
At Oviston, on the south bank of the reservoir, is the inlet of the Orange-Fish River Tunnel, allowing water to be diverted to the Great Fish River and most of the Eastern Cape's western parts.
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Wikipedia