Hirakud Dam

Gates of Hirakud Dam
Hirakud Dam is located in Odisha
Hirakud Dam
Location of in Odisha
Official nameHirakud Dam
Location16.5 km from Sambalpur, Odisha
Coordinates21°34′N 83°52′E / 21.57°N 83.87°E / 21.57; 83.87
Construction began1947
Opening date1957
Construction cost1.01 billion Rs in 1953
Dam and spillways
Type of damComposite dam and reservoir
ImpoundsMahanadi River
Height60.96 m (200 ft)
Length4.8 km (3 mi) (main section)
25.8 km (16 mi) (entire dam)
Spillways64 sluice-gates, 34 crest-gates
Spillway capacity42,450 cubic metres per second (1,499,000 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Total capacity5,896,000,000 m3 (4,779,965 acre⋅ft) (OR) 205.56 tmc ft (effective)
Catchment area83,400 km2 (32,201 sq mi)
Power Station
TurbinesPower House I (Burla): 2 x 49.5 MW, 3 x 37.5 MW, 2 x 32 MW Kaplan-type
Power House II (Chiplima): 3 x 24 MW[1]
Installed capacity347.5 MW[1]
Designations
Official nameHirakud Reservoir
Designated12 October 2021
Reference no.2494[2]

Hirakud Dam is built across the Mahanadi River, about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from Sambalpur in the state of Odisha in India. It is the longest earthen dam in the world. Behind the dam extends a lake, Hirakud Reservoir, 55 km (34 mi) long. It is one of the first major multipurpose river valley projects started after India's independence. Hirakud Reservoir was declared a Ramsar site on 12 October 2021.[3]

Bird's-eye view of Hirakud Dam
  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference power was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Hirakud Reservoir". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Tampara Lake". PIB. Retrieved 5 November 2022.