Gura Apelor Dam

Gura Apelor Dam
Downstream face of the dam
Gura Apelor Dam is located in Romania
Gura Apelor Dam
Location of Gura Apelor Dam in Romania
CountryRomania
LocationHațeg, Hunedoara County
Coordinates45°20′21.03″N 22°43′18.00″E / 45.3391750°N 22.7216667°E / 45.3391750; 22.7216667
PurposePower
StatusComplete, under repair
Construction began1975
Opening date1986; 38 years ago (1986)
Owner(s)S.C. Hidroelectrica S.A.
Dam and spillways
Type of damEmbankment, rock-fill
ImpoundsRâul Mare
Height168 m (551 ft)
Length464 m (1,522 ft)
Width (crest)12 m (39 ft)
Width (base)574 m (1,883 ft)
Dam volume10,285,000 m3 (13,452,000 cu yd)
Reservoir
Total capacity225,000,000 m3 (182,000 acre⋅ft)
Catchment area235 km2 (91 sq mi)
Maximum water depth162 m (531 ft)
Râul Mare Hydroelectric Power Station
Coordinates45°28′43.63″N 22°49′26.33″E / 45.4787861°N 22.8239806°E / 45.4787861; 22.8239806
Commission date1986
Hydraulic head582.5 m (1,911 ft)
Turbines2 x 167.5 MW
Installed capacity335 MW

The Gura Apelor Dam is a rock-fill dam on the river Râul Mare about 35 km (22 mi) southwest of Hațeg in Hunedoara County, Romania. It is fed by the Râul Mare and its tributaries Lăpușnicul Mic and Șes.[1] It is the tallest dam in Romania. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power generation and it supports the 335 MW Râul Mare Hydroelectric Power Station which is located underground about 18 km (11 mi) to the northeast. Water from the reservoir is piped the long distance from the dam to the power station. The difference in elevation between the reservoir and the power station downstream affords a hydraulic head of 582.5 m (1,911 ft). Construction on the dam began in 1975 and the power station was operational in 1986.[2] In 2012 the dam's reservoir was drained for repairs. It is expected to be impounded again in 2014.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Stability Monitoring System Implementation for Rural Mare Retezat Dam" (PDF). International Association for Automation and Robotics in Construction. 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  2. ^ "SUCURSALE" (in Romanian). Hidroconstructia. Archived from the original on 12 June 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  3. ^ "Looks like a lake without water" (in Romanian). Evz.Ro. 22 February 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
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