Chirkey Dam

Chirkey Dam
Chirkey Dam
Location of Chirkey Dam in Republic of Dagestan Show map of Republic of Dagestan Chirkey Dam (Russia) Show map of Russia
Official name	Chirkey GES
Country	Russia
Location	Dagestan
Coordinates	42°58′37″N 46°52′16″E / 42.97694°N 46.87111°E / 42.97694; 46.87111
Status	In use
Construction began	1964
Opening date	1976
Owner(s)	RusHydro
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Arch
Impounds	Sulak River
Height	232.5 m (763 ft)
Length	338 m (1,109 ft)
Width (crest)	6 m (20 ft)
Width (base)	30 m (98 ft)
Dam volume	1,275,000 m3 (45,026,200 cu ft)
Spillways	1
Spillway type	Service, flood discharge tunnel
Spillway capacity	2,900 m3/s (102,413 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Creates	Chirkey Reservoir
Total capacity	2,780,000,000 m3 (2,253,783 acre⋅ft)
Catchment area	11,290 km2 (4,359 sq mi)
Surface area	42.4 km2 (16 sq mi)
Maximum water depth	200 m (656 ft)
Power Station
Commission date	1974-1976
Hydraulic head	205 m (673 ft) (max.)
Turbines	4 × 250 MW Francis-type
Installed capacity	1,000 MW
Annual generation	2.47 billion kWh

The Chirkey Dam (Chirkeisk GES) is an arch dam on the Sulak River in Dagestan, Russia. The main purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power production, and it supports a 1,000 MW power station. Construction on the dam began in 1964, the first generator was operational by 1974, the last in 1976 while the project was officially completed in 1978. It is the tallest arch dam in Russia.

The dam is a 232.5 m (763 ft) tall and 338 m (1,109 ft) long (crest) concrete arch dam. It is 6 m (20 ft) wide at its crest, 30 m (98 ft) wide at its base and contains 1,275,000 m³ (45,026,200 cu ft) of concrete. The dam withholds a 2,780,000,000 m³ (2,253,783 acre⋅ft) reservoir of which 1,320,000,000 m³ (1,070,141 acre⋅ft) is active or "useful" storage. The reservoir has a surface area of 42.4 km² (16 sq mi), length of 40 km (25 mi) and maximum width of 5 km (3 mi). Maximum depth of the reservoir is 200 m (656 ft) and its catchment area is 11,290 km² (4,359 sq mi).^[1][2]

The dam's spillway consists of a 509 m (1,670 ft) long non-pressure tunnel with its intake on the left bank of the dam. The spillway's capacity is 2,900 m³/s (102,413 cu ft/s). The dam's outlet works, spillway and power station have a combined discharge capacity of 3,550 m³/s (125,367 cu ft/s).^[1]

The dam's power station contains 4 × 250 MW Francis turbine-generators for a total installed capacity of 1,000 MW. Each generator is supplied with water by a penstock, all four of which intake on the upstream side of the dam's face and run down its surface toward the power station at the dam's base.^[1]

• List of power stations in Russia

• Photos of the dam at EnglishRussia.com