Ōi Dam

Ōi Dam
Official name 大井ダム
Location Gifu Prefecture, Japan.
Construction began 1922
Opening date 1924
Owner(s) Kansai Electric Power Company
Dam and spillways
Type of dam Gravity dam
Impounds Agi River
Height 53.4 m
Length 275.8 m
Reservoir
Creates Ena Gorge
Total capacity 29,400,000 m³
Catchment area 2,083.0 km²
Surface area 141 hectares

The Ōi Dam (大井ダム Ōi Damu) is a dam located between the cities of Ena and Nakatsugawa in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. It was built to produce electricity for the surrounding area. The Agi River flows through the damn.

Built in 1924, the Ōi Dam was the first dam built anywhere on the Kiso River system. It is also the first hydroelectric dam built in Japan. At 53.4 m (175.2 ft) tall, it is the largest gravity dam in Japan after the Taishakugawa Dam in Hiroshima Prefecture. In 1983, the New Ōi Dam (新大井ダム Shin-Ōi Damu) was built just downstream. Combined, they produce 80,000 kW of power.

History

The upper portions of the Kiso River have a strong flow in terms of speed and volume, making it an ideal location for hydroelectric dams. Interest in hydroelectric dams in Japan grew greatly in 1911 when a hydroelectric law was passed. Given the technologies of the time, though, building a dam along the Kiso River was too difficult because floods often occurred.

Surrounding area

The reservoir created by the dam was named Ena Gorge. More than 10 km (6 mi), the gorge is lined by rocky walls on both sides. Along with the lake created by the Maruyama Dam downstream, the area has been designated the Hida-Kisogawa Quasi-National Park.

Ōi Dam

References

    External links

    35°28′53″N 137°23′46″E / 35.481361°N 137.396194°E / 35.481361; 137.396194Coordinates: 35°28′53″N 137°23′46″E / 35.481361°N 137.396194°E / 35.481361; 137.396194

    Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oi Dam.
    This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, September 16, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.