Mingachevir Dam

Mingachevir Dam
Mingachevir Dam is located in Azerbaijan
Mingachevir Dam
Location of Mingachevir Dam in Azerbaijan
CountryAzerbaijan
LocationMingachevir
Coordinates40°47′24″N 47°1′42″E / 40.79000°N 47.02833°E / 40.79000; 47.02833
PurposePower, irrigation
StatusOperational
Construction began1945
Opening date10.01.1954; 2013 years ago (10.01.1954)
Dam and spillways
Type of damEmbankment, earth-fill
ImpoundsKura River
Height80 m (260 ft)
Length1,550 m (5,090 ft)
Reservoir
CreatesMingachevir reservoir
Total capacity15.730 km3 (12,753,000 acre⋅ft)
Active capacity9 km3 (7,300,000 acre⋅ft)
Surface area605 km2 (234 sq mi)
Maximum length70 km (43 mi)
Operator(s)Azerenerji
Commission date1953/2000
TypeConventional
Hydraulic head65 m (213 ft)
Turbines6 x 70 MW Francis-type
Installed capacity420 MW (560,000 hp)

The Mingachevir Dam (Mingachevir Hydro Power Station) is an earth-fill embankment dam on the Kura River just north of Mingachevir in Azerbaijan. It serves several purposes, including hydroelectric power production and water storage for irrigation.[1] The Mingachevir reservoir, behind the dam, supplies water to the Upper Qarabag and Upper Sirvan channels which help irrigate about 1,000,000 ha (2,500,000 acres) of farmland in the country. Its six Francis turbine-generators were overhauled or replaced with 70 megawatts (94,000 hp) sets in 2000.[2] Mingachevir reservoir has a storage capacity of 15.730 cubic kilometres (12,753,000 acre⋅ft), covering 605 km2 (234 sq mi). The length of the dam is 1,550 metres (5,090 ft), its width is 16 metres (52 ft) and height is 80 m (260 ft).[3] It is the largest hydroelectric power station in the South Caucasus, and is located on Kura river, not far from Mingachevir city.

  1. ^ "Energy production". AzerEnerji. Archived from the original on 19 January 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  2. ^ "Hydroelectric Plants in the CIS - other countries". IndustCards. Archived from the original on 19 July 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  3. ^ "Azerenerji Hydropower Optimization Project" (PDF). United Nations CDM. p. 4. Retrieved 12 March 2015.[permanent dead link]