Major Dams of Oceania

The important dams of Oceania, which support water supply, hydroelectric power production, and storage. Throughout Australia and Tasmania, there are numerous significant buildings, including Talbingo Dam, Warragamba Dam, Gordon Dam, and others. Every dam has distinctive features including different heights and storage capacities. These are engineering marvels that are essential to the growth and sustainability of the places they serve.

Features of Major Dams of Oceania

Here are the descriptions about major dams of Oceania −

Talbingo Dam

Talbingo Dam is an embankment dam that was built in 1971 and is 51 years old. It is situated in Australia's (Oceania) New South Wales. The tallest dam in Oceania is Talbingo Dam. There is a 1,500MW installed capacity for the embankment dam. Talbingo Dam is 162 meters tall and has a storage capacity of 0.92 billion cubic meters of water. Its 14.49 million m³ structural volume. About 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) south of Talbingo Village, on the Tumut River, in the Snowy Mountains, lies a large dam known as Talbingo Dam.

Warragamba Dam

In the Australian state of New South Wales' Wollondilly Shire, the Warragamba Dam is a dam that has been recognized as a national historic landmark. The Warragamba Dam is a 62-year-old gravity dam that was finished in 1960. It is situated in Australia's (Oceania) New South Wales. The second-tallest dam in Oceania is called Warragamba Dam. Warragamba Dam has a structural height of 142 meters. The gravity dam has an installed capacity of 50MW and has a maximum storage capacity of 2.03 billion m³ of water. It is a concrete gravity dam that generates Lake Burragorang, Sydney's principal water supply reservoir.

Gordon Dam

The Gordon Dam, sometimes referred to as the Gordon River Dam, is a sizable gated double curvature concrete arch dam spanning the Gordon River that is situated in Tasmania, Australia's Southwest National Park. The reservoir that was flooded is known as Lake Gordon. Gordon Dam, often referred to as Gordon River Dam, is an arch dam that is situated in South West Tasmania, Australia. It was constructed in 1978 and has been 44 years since then. The greatest reservoir volume in Oceania is impound by Gordon Dam. 450 MW are available at Gordon Dam's installed capacity. The 140-meter-tall arch dam has a maximum storage capacity of 12.40 trillion cubic meters of water. It has a 0.15 million m³ structural volume.

Eucumbene Dam

An embankment dam called Eucumbene Dam is situated in New South Wales, Australia (Oceania). It was finished in 1958, making it 64 years old. With a height of 116 meters, the embankment dam can hold up to 4.79 billion m³ of water. The structural volume of Eucumbene Dam is 6.74 million m³. The Eucumbene Dam spans the Eucumbene River in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, Australia, and has two vertical lift gates, an overflow ski-jump, and a bucket spillway. The dam, one of the sixteen major dams that make up the Snowy Mountains Scheme, is primarily used to generate hydroelectric power. Lake Eucumbene, the largest storage lake in the Snowy Mountains Scheme, is the name of the impounded reservoir.

Blowering Dam

The Blowering Dam is a sizable ungated rock fill with clay core embankment dam with a concrete chute spillway that impounds the same-named reservoir. It is situated in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, Australia, on the Tumut River upstream of Tumut. An embankment dam is Blowering Dam. It was constructed in 1968 and has been 54 years since then. Blowering Dam has a structural height of 114 meters. The embankment dam has an installed capacity of 80MW and can contain up to 1.63 billion m³ of water.

Copeton Dam

In the New England region of New South Wales, Australia, Copeton Dam is a sizable clay core and rock fill embankment dam with nine radial gates and a gated concrete chute spillway spanning the Gwydir River upstream of Bingara. The dam's functions include water supply, irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, and environmental flow. The lake that has been dammed up is known as Lake Copeton. Copeton Dam is an embankment dam that is situated in New England, New South Wales, Australia. It was constructed in 1973 and has been 49 years since then. The installed capacity of the embankment dam is 21MW. Copeton Dam is 113 meters tall and has a 1.36 billion m³ water storage capacity.

Burrinjuck Dam

The 1928-built Burrinjuck Dam is a gravity dam that is 94 years old. It is situated in Australia's (Oceania) New South Wales. The installed capacity of the gravity dam is 28MW. Burrinjuck Dam is 93 meters tall and has a 1.03 billion m³ water storage capacity. It has a 0.39 million m³ structural volume. A significant gated, concrete-walled gravity hydroelectric dam, Burrinjuck Dam is classified as a national historic landmark. In the South West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia, it spans the Murrumbidgee River with three spillways. Flood mitigation, hydropower generation, irrigation, water supply, and conservation are among the goals of the dam. The lake that has been dammed up is known as Lake Burrinjuck.

Wyangala Dam

The Wyangala Dam spans the Lachlan River and features eight radial gates, a concrete chute spillway, and a massive gated rock fill with clay core embankment and gravity dam. Wyangala Dam is an 87-year-old embankment dam that was finished in 1935. It is situated in Australia's (Oceania) New South Wales. Wyangala Dam has an installed capacity of 18MW. The embankment dam is 85 meters tall and has a 1.22 billion m³ water storage capacity. Flood mitigation, hydropower generation, irrigation, water supply, and conservation are among the goals of the dam. Lake Wyangala is the name of the impoundment reservoir.

Crotty Dam

The Crotty Dam is a rockfill embankment dam with a controlled and uncontrolled spillway across the King River, between Mount Jukes and Mount Huxley, in Western Tasmania, Australia. It was also known as the King Dam during construction and the King River Dam upon initial approval. The lake that has been dammed up is known as Lake Burbury. The John Butters Power Station, which is located 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) below the dam wall, will be used to generate hydroelectric power through the dam, which was built in 1991 as part of the King River Power Development Scheme by the Hydro Electric Corporation (TAS).

Burrendong Dam

Burrendong Dam is a 1967-built embankment dam that is 55 years old. It is situated in Australia's (Oceania) New South Wales. Burrendong Dam is a large gated rock-fill embankment dam that spans the Macquarie River upstream of Wellington. It has a clay core. The dam's objectives include the prevention of flooding, irrigation, water supply, and the production of hydroelectric power. Water from the Macquarie, Cudgegong, and Meroo Creek rivers, as well as water from the dam, are used to fill Lake Burrendong. The installed capacity of the embankment dam is 19MW. Burrendong Dam is 76 meters tall and has a 1.19 billion m³ water storage capacity.

List of Major Dams of Oceania

Here is the list of major dams of Oceania, their location and height −

Dams	Location	Height in meter
Talbingo Dam	New South Wales	162
Warragamba Dam	New South Wales	142
Gordon Dam	South West Tasmania	140
Eucumbene Dam	New South Wales	116
Blowering Dam	New South Wales	114
Copeton Dam	New England, New South Wales	113
Burrinjuck Dam	New South Wales	93
Wyangala Dam	New South Wales	85
Crotty Dam	Tasmania	83
Burrendong Dam	New South Wales	76

Conclusion

Major dams in Oceania, including Talbingo Dam, Warragamba Dam, Gordon Dam, Eucumbene Dam, Blowering Dam, Copeton Dam, Burrinjuck Dam, Wyangala Dam, Crotty Dam, and Burrendong Dam, are essential for water supply, agriculture, flood prevention, and hydroelectric power generation. These dams, which are scattered throughout Tasmania and Australia, varies in height, installed capacity, and storage capacity. They greatly contribute to the growth and sustainability of the corresponding regions by supplying vital water supplies and clean electricity.

Frequently Asked Question

What is the tallest dam in Oceania?

The Talbingo Dam is the tallest dam in Oceania, standing at a height of 162 meters.

Which dam is recognized as a national historic landmark?

The Warragamba Dam is recognized as a national historic landmark in Australia's New South Wales.

Which dam has the greatest storage capacity in Oceania?

The Gordon Dam has the greatest storage capacity in Oceania, with a maximum capacity of 12.40 trillion cubic meters of water.

Which dam is a part of the Snowy Mountains Scheme?

The Eucumbene Dam is one of the sixteen major dams that make up the Snowy Mountains Scheme in New South Wales, Australia.

Which dam spans the Murrumbidgee River?

The Burrinjuck Dam spans the Murrumbidgee River and serves multiple purposes such as flood mitigation, hydropower generation, irrigation, water supply, and conservation.

What is the purpose of the Crotty Dam?

The Crotty Dam, also known as the King River Dam, generates hydroelectric power as part of the King River Power Development Scheme in Western Tasmania.

Which dam is located upstream of Wellington?

The Burrendong Dam is located upstream of Wellington in New South Wales and serves the purposes of flood prevention, irrigation, water supply, and hydroelectric power generation.