Mtera Dam
Dam in Tanzania
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mtera Dam is a hydroelectric dam in Tanzania. The dam is located midway between Iringa and Dodoma on the border between the Iringa Region and the Dodoma Region. The travel time from Dodoma is about two hours on a tarmac road.
Official nameBwawa la Mtera (Swahili)
CountryTanzania
Coordinates7°08′10.3″S 35°59′12.6″E
PurposeFlood control and power
| Mtera Dam | |
|---|---|
The Mtera Reservoir in the year 2012. | |
  Mtera Dam Location in Tanzania  Mtera Dam Mtera Dam (Africa) .svg) Mtera Dam Mtera Dam (Earth) | |
| Official name | Bwawa la Mtera (Swahili) |
| Country | Tanzania |
| Coordinates | 7°08′10.3″S 35°59′12.6″E |
| Purpose | Flood control and power |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1970 |
| Opening date | 19 February 1981 |
| Owner | TANESCO |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Rock-fill dam |
| Impounds | Great Ruaha River |
| Height | 40 metres (130 ft) |
| Elevation at crest | 701.5 metres (2,302 ft) |
| Reservoir | |
| Catchment area | 68,000 km2 (26,000 sq mi) |
| Power Station | |
| Commission date | 1984 |
| Turbines | 2× 40 MW |
| Installed capacity | 80 MW |
| Website Tanesco website | |
| Source: TANESCO[1] | |
Overview
Mtera Dam is a large hydroelectric dam in Tanzania. It measures 660 square kilometres (250 sq mi) at full capacity. The lake is 56 kilometres (35 mi) long, and 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) wide, and is feed by the Great Ruaha River and the Kisigo River. It was built from 1975 to 1979 for the purpose of regulating water level at the downstream at the Ruaha installed Kidatu Hydro-electric Dam. It has a capacity of 80 megawatts (110,000 hp).
