Karun-3 Dam

Karun-3 Dam
Location of Karun-3 Dam in Iran
Official name	سد کارون ۳
Location	Khuzestan, Iran
Coordinates	31°48′08″N 50°05′42″E / 31.80222°N 50.09500°E / 31.80222; 50.09500
Opening date	2005
Operator(s)	IWPRDC
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Arch dam
Impounds	Karun River
Height	205 m (673 ft)
Length	462 m (1,516 ft)
Width (base)	29.5 m (97 ft)
Spillway capacity	15,000 m3/s (530,000 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Total capacity	2,970,000,000 m3 (2,410,000 acre⋅ft)
Surface area	48 km2 (19 sq mi)
Power Station
Commission date	2005-2006
Turbines	8 x 285 MW Francis-type
Installed capacity	2,280 MW[1]
Annual generation	4,137 GWh

The Karun-3 dam (Persian: سد کارون ۳) is a hydroelectric dam on the Karun river located in the province of Khuzestan, Iran. It was built to help meet Iran's energy demands as well as provide seasonal flood control.^[2] The Karun river has the highest discharge slits and seasonal flooding in Iran.^[3]

The Karun-3 power generators are connected to the national power grid. With peak power generation at 2,280 MW,^[4] average annual electric power generation is 4,137 GWh. The dam has one of the largest generator capacities in Iran which help the electric power shortage during peak demand in the summer.

This dam is of concrete double arch type. It is 205 m (673 ft) high from the foundation and 185 m (607 ft) high from the river bed. The foundation width is 29.5 m (97 ft).^[5]

The arch dam design is ideal for this location which has a narrow, rocky gorge behind the water reservoir. Moreover, because of its arch shape, the force of the reservoir water presses downward against the dam which strengthens the dam foundation.^[6]