Vanderkloof Dam

Dam in Between Northern Cape and Free State
29°59′32″S 24°43′54″E / 29.99222°S 24.73167°E / -29.99222; 24.73167Construction began1973Opening date1977Owner(s)Department of Water AffairsDam and spillwaysType of damArch damImpoundsOrange RiverHeight108 m (354 ft)[1]Length756 m (2,480 ft)[2]ReservoirCreatesVanderkloof Dam ReservoirTotal capacity3,236 million cubic metres (114.3×10^9 cu ft)[2]Surface area133.402 km2 (51.507 sq mi)Power StationOperator(s)EskomTurbines2Installed capacity240 MW (320,000 hp)
360 MW (480,000 hp) (max)Annual generation932 GWh (3,360 TJ)[3]

The Vanderkloof Dam (originally the P. K. Le Roux Dam) is situated approximately 130 km (81 mi) downstream from Gariep Dam and is fed by the Orange River, South Africa's largest river. Vanderkloof Dam is the second-largest dam in South Africa (in volume), having the highest dam wall in the country at 108 metres (354 ft). The dam was commissioned in 1977; it has a capacity of 3,187.557 million cubic metres (2,584,195 acre⋅ft) and a surface area of 133.43 square kilometres (51.52 sq mi) when full. Other rivers flowing into this dam are the Berg River, two unnamed streams coming in from the direction of Reebokrand, the Knapsak River, Paaiskloofspruit, Seekoei River, Kattegatspruit and the Hondeblaf River, in a clockwise direction.

The Town of VanderKloof has been established on the left bank of the dam, with the main town road entrance just up the way from the dam wall, with holiday resorts and parks, such as Rolfontein Nature Reserve (Photos Wiki Commons)

See also

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Gallery

  • Right side look onto the dam
    Right side look onto the dam

References

  1. ^ "Vanderkloof Dam". Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  2. ^ a b "Vanderkloof Dam". Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (South Africa). Retrieved 27 May 2009.
  3. ^ Eskom website

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vanderkloof Dam.
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