Chardara Dam

The Chardara Dam (Kazakh: Shardara), also known as Chardarin Dam, is an earth-fill embankment dam on the Syr Darya River in Shardara District, Kazakhstan. It was constructed between 1964 and 1968 with the primary purpose of irrigation. The dam has an associated 100 MW hydroelectric plant named Shardarinsk Hydroelectric Power Station. The dam provides water to the Kyzyl-Kum channel for crop irrigation. The reservoir created by the dam has a maximum storage capacity of 5,700,000,000 m³ (4,600,000 acre⋅ft) and a surface area of 900 km² (350 sq mi).[1] The dam has been undergoing structural rehabilitation and a power station upgrade is currently in planning. The power station's four 25 MW Kaplan turbine-generators are scheduled to be upgraded to 31.5 MW each.[3]

Chardara Dam
Chardara Reservoir (center)
Location of Chardara Dam in Kazakhstan
Country	Kazakhstan
Location	Shardara District
Coordinates	41°14′43.14″N 67°57′37.94″E
Purpose	Irrigation, power
Status	Operational
Construction began	1964
Opening date	1968
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Embankment, earth-fill
Impounds	Syr Darya River
Height	28.5 m (94 ft)
Length	5,300 m (17,400 ft)
Spillway type	Gate-controlled
Reservoir
Total capacity	5,700,000,000 m3 (4,600,000 acre⋅ft)
Active capacity	4,700,000,000 m3 (3,800,000 acre⋅ft)[1]
Surface area	900 km2 (350 sq mi)
Maximum length	80 km (50 mi)
Maximum width	15 km (9.3 mi) (average)[2]
Maximum water depth	6.3 m (21 ft) (average)
Chardara (Shardara) Hydroelectric Power Station
Commission date	1968
Turbines	4 x 25 MW Kaplan-type
Installed capacity	100 MW