Gariep Dam
Dam in Eastern Cape and Free State, South Africa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Gariep Dam is located 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. It is the largest dam in South Africa.
| Gariep Dam | |
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  Gariep Dam Location of Gariep Dam in South Africa | |
| 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 |
| Construction began | 1965 |
| Opening date | 1971 |
| Owner | 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; 5.34×109 m3)[1] |
| Surface area | 374 km2 (144 sq mi) |
| Power Station | |
| Operator | Eskom |
| Turbines | 4 x 90 MW (120,000 hp) |
| Installed capacity | 360 MW (480,000 hp) (max) |
| Annual generation | 889 GWh (3,200 TJ)[2] |
Name
The Gariep Dam, at its commission in 1971, was originally named the Hendrik Verwoerd Dam after Hendrik Verwoerd, the Prime Minister before and after 31 May 1961, when the country changed from the Union of South Africa to the Republic of South Africa. 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 longest river in South Africa).[3]
Location
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 dam crest is some 1,300 metres (4,300 ft) above sea level.
Dimensions
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 water volume it retains. 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.
Design type and contractors
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.
Gariep Dam Bridge
Gariep Dam bridge | |
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| Coordinates | 30°37′22″S 25°30′23″E |
| Carries | 14300 tons |
| Characteristics | |
| Width | Doubleway |
| Statistics | |
| Toll | None |
| Location | |
 Interactive map of Gariep Dam bridge | |
Rivers and spruits flowing into the dam
Water consumption, outflow, derivative usages and diversions
It must be carefully managed by balancing the supply-and-demand of this water resource usage for its derivatives of electricity generation, irrigation, and municipal drinking water. There is trade off in the water usage for electricity and inter-basin transfer for water in other areas like Port Elizabeth.
Orange–Fish Water Scheme
The scheme diverts water from the Orange River to the Great Fish River valley.[5][6]
- Great Fish River Valley, then via Grassridge Dam, ElandsDrift Wier, Cookhouse Tunnel, De MistKraal Weir[7] into
- Sundays River Valley (Canals and Tunnels Scheme) North-West of Port Elizabeth, then via Darlington Dam, Korhaansdrift Weir, Canal, Scheepersvlakte Balancing Dam,[8] Bulk water Pipeline[9] to
- Port Elizabeth, Nooitgedracht Water Treatment Works,[10] since 1992 with water from the Sundays River Valley[11] (See External links for more video documentaries on construction and drone footage for canal system.)
Orange-Fish River Tunnel
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.
Gariep hydroelectric power plant
A 360-MW hydroelectric power plant is one is run by Eskom. Four 90-MW hydro turbines (which are remotely controlled from Gauteng)[12]
Gallery
Gariep Dam overflowing in January 2011
Sunset at Oviston Nature Reserve on the dam's southern shores
Road sign heading for the dam wall
View over the lake
Forever Holiday Resort at Gariep Dam
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