Upper Gotvand Dam
| Upper Gotvand Dam | |
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Upper Gotvand Reservoir
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 Location of Upper Gotvand Dam in Iran
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| Country | Iran |
| Location | Gotvand, Gotvand County, Khuzestan Province |
| Coordinates | 32°15′58″N 48°56′09″E / 32.26611°N 48.93583°ECoordinates: 32°15′58″N 48°56′09″E / 32.26611°N 48.93583°E |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | August 2004 |
| Opening date | 2012 |
| Owner(s) | Iran Water & Power Resources Development Co. |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Earthfill dam |
| Impounds | Karun River |
| Height (foundation) | 180 m (591 ft) |
| Length | 760 m (2,493 ft) |
| Width (crest) | 15 m (49 ft) |
| Width (base) | 1,075 m (3,527 ft) |
| Dam volume | 28,500,000 m3 (1.006468002×109 cu ft) |
| Spillways | 4 |
| Spillway type | Service, controlled ogee-type |
| Spillway capacity | 17,500 m3/s (618,007 cu ft/s) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Upper Gotvand Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 4,500,000,000 m3 (3,648,209 acre·ft) |
| Catchment area | 32,425 km2 (12,519 sq mi) |
| Surface area | 96.5 km2 (37 sq mi) |
| Power station | |
| Commission date | 2012 |
| Type | Conventional |
| Turbines | 4 x 250 MW Francis-type |
| Installed capacity | 1,000 MW (currently) 2,000 MW (with phase 2) |
| Annual generation | 4,500 GWh |
Upper Gotvand Dam, or simply the Gotvand Dam, is an embankment dam on the Karun River about 12 km (7.5 mi) northeast of Gotvand in Khuzestan Province, Iran. It currently has an installed capacity of 1,000 MW with another 1,000 MW in the works for a second phase. Studies for the Karun River began in the 1960s and specific designs on the Upper Gotvand were presented in 1967, 1975 and 1982. After the design and location were chosen, a further study was carried out in 1997, the same year preliminary construction (roads, bridges, river diversion) began. The river was diverted by April 2003 and excavation began soon thereafter. After completion of the dam, impounding of its reservoir began on 30 July 2011 during a ceremony attended by Iranian President Mahmood Ahmadinejad. The first generator of phase one was commissioned on 5 May 2012, two more by 18 September 2012 and the final in November 2012. Ahmadinejad was again present for the dam's inauguration on 22 April 2013. Phase 2 is estimated to be complete in 2015 and the dam is going to become one of Iran's largest power stations and is already its tallest earth-fill dam.
Downstream of the Upper Gotvand Dam is the 22 m (72 ft) high Lower Gotvand Dam at 32°16′32.51″N 48°50′8.52″E / 32.2756972°N 48.8357000°E. Constructed from 1975 to 1977, it serves to divert portions of the river into two canals for the irrigation of 42,000 ha (100,000 acres) of farmland.
This dam has been built near huge salt mines and increased the salinity level of water to an alarming level. It has caused massive amount of salt be mixed with water and has a large negative impact on agricultural sector in Khuzestan province. This project is done by IRGC, Iranian Republican Guard Corp, with least considerations for environmental impacts. There have been suggestions to redesign or destroy the dam to prevent further destruction of fertile land in the province. Fertile lands are getting destroyed because of irrigation with salt water.
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Wikipedia