Karkheh Dam

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The Karkheh Dam ( Persian سد کرخه ) is a large multi-purpose dam on the Karkheh River in Iran, which was built in 2001 by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Building

The dam is in the southwestern province of Khuzestan on the Karkheh; the nearest town to the east is Andimeschk. The reservoir has a storage capacity of 5.9 billion cubic meters. The dam has the purpose to irrigate 320,000 acres of land, 520 MW to produce (3 x 140 MW) and electric power from hydroelectric power and to protect the underflow from flooding. Every year 934 GWh of electrical energy can be generated.

The dam, a rockfill dam with earth core is 127 m high, 3030 m, 1100 m and at the base of the dam crest width of 12 m. Its construction has cost the equivalent of $ 700 million.

Planning and construction

1956, plans for the dam by an American company called " Development and Resources Corporation ". 1990, the final plans by consulting engineering firm Mahab Ghodss were completed. The engineering department of the Revolutionary Guards began in 1992 with the construction and finished it in 2001. During construction, 120 contractors and eight consulting firms were active. 5,000 construction workers were involved and 40 of them died as a result of accidents.