Upper Gotvand Dam

Upper Gotvand Dam, or simply the Gotvand Dam (Persian: سد گتوند بالا), is an embankment dam on the Karun River about 12 km (7.5 mi) northeast of Gotvand in Khuzestan Province, Iran. It currently has an installed capacity of 1,000 MW with another 1,000 MW in the works for a second phase. Studies for the Karun River began in the 1960s and specific designs on the Upper Gotvand were presented in 1967, 1975 and 1982. After the design and location were chosen, a further study was carried out in 1997, the same year preliminary construction (roads, bridges, river diversion) began. The river was diverted by April 2003 and excavation began soon thereafter. After completion of the dam, impounding of its reservoir began on 30 July 2011 during a ceremony attended by Iranian President Mahmood Ahmadinejad. The first generator of phase one was commissioned on 5 May 2012, two more by 18 September 2012 and the final in November 2012.[2][3] Ahmadinejad was again present for the dam's inauguration on 22 April 2013.[4] Phase 2 is estimated to be complete in 2015 and the dam is going to become one of Iran's largest power stations and is already its tallest earth-fill dam.[5][6]

Upper Gotvand Dam
Upper Gotvand Reservoir
Location of Upper Gotvand Dam in Iran
Country	Iran
Location	Gotvand, Gotvand County, Khuzestan Province
Coordinates	32°15′58″N 48°56′09″E
Status	Operational
Construction began	August 2004
Opening date	2012
Owner(s)	Iran Water & Power Resources Development Co.
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Earthfill dam
Impounds	Karun River
Height (foundation)	180 m (591 ft)[1]
Length	760 m (2,493 ft)
Width (crest)	15 m (49 ft)
Width (base)	1,075 m (3,527 ft)
Dam volume	28,500,000 m3 (1.006468002×109 cu ft)
Spillways	4
Spillway type	Service, controlled ogee-type
Spillway capacity	17,500 m3/s (618,007 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Creates	Upper Gotvand Reservoir
Total capacity	4,500,000,000 m3 (3,648,209 acre⋅ft)
Catchment area	32,425 km2 (12,519 sq mi)
Surface area	96.5 km2 (37 sq mi)
Power Station
Commission date	2012
Type	Conventional
Turbines	4 x 250 MW Francis-type
Installed capacity	1,000 MW (currently) 2,000 MW (with phase 2)
Annual generation	4,500 GWh

Downstream of the Upper Gotvand Dam is the 22 m (72 ft) high Lower Gotvand Dam at 32°16′32.51″N 48°50′8.52″E. Constructed from 1975 to 1977, it serves to divert portions of the river into two canals for the irrigation of 42,000 ha (100,000 acres) of farmland.[7][8]