Vilyuy Dam

The Vilyuy Dam (Russian: Вилюйская ГЭС; Yakut: Бүлүүтээҕи ГЭС) is a large dam and hydroelectric power station on the Vilyuy River in Chernyshevsky, Mirninsky District, Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia. The dam was built between 1964 and 1967 to provide power for diamond mines in the area. It is located in the southern part of the Vilyuy Plateau and was one of the first of such major structures in the world to be built on permafrost.[1] Vilyuy is reported to have the coldest operating conditions of any hydroelectric plant in the world.[2]

Vilyuy Dam
Vilyuy Dam is located in Russia
Vilyuy Dam
Location of Vilyuy Dam in Russia
LocationSakha Republic, Russia
Coordinates63°01′55″N 112°28′19″E
Construction began1964
Opening date1967
Dam and spillways
Type of damEmbankment
ImpoundsVilyuy River
Height75 m (246 ft)[1]
Length600 m (2,000 ft)
Spillway capacity5,970 m3/s (211,000 cu ft/s)[1]
Reservoir
Total capacity35.9 km3 (29,100,000 acre⋅ft)
Surface area2,501 km2 (966 sq mi)
Power Station
Installed capacity650 MW[1]
Annual generation2,710 GWh

The dam is an embankment structure 75 metres (246 ft) high and 600 metres (2,000 ft) long, containing 5,000,000 m3 (6,500,000 cu yd) of fill. Its power station has four turbines with a combined capacity of 650 MW,[3] generating 2,710 million KWh annually.[1]

Vilyuy Reservoir

Behind the dam, the Vilyuy Reservoir started filling in 1969 and topped out in 1973. It is one of the largest man-made lakes in the world, with a length of 450 km (280 mi) and holding up to 35.9 km3 (29,100,000 acre⋅ft) of water.[1] The backwater system of the large artificial lake extends along the Vilyui River to the mouth of its Chirkuo tributary. Other tributaries of the Vilyuy having their mouth in the reservoir are the Chona and the Akhtaranda.[4][5] The flooded area has caused the winter temperature of the Vilyuy River to increase by 5 to 6 °C (9.0 to 10.8 °F), and has greatly reduced flooding on the lower part of the river, leading to declines in bird and fish populations. The filling of the reservoir also displaced about 600 people.[6]

See also

References
  1. Biyanov, G. F. (1978). "Experience in Constructing Dams on Permafrost in Yakutia". Permafrost: Second International Conference (USSR Contribution). National Academies. pp. 594–598.
  2. Yanity, Brian B. (2007). Cold Climate Problems of a Micro-hydroelectric Development on Crow Creek, Alaska. pp. 8–9. ISBN 978-0-54945-634-6.
  3. Smith, Daniel W.; Low, Nola (1996). Cold Regions Utilities Monograph. American Society of Civil Engineers. p. 82. ISBN 0-78440-192-6.
  4. "P-49-50 Topographic Chart (in Russian)". Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  5. Influence of the Vilyui hydropower plant on the regime of the Vilyui river
  6. "Silent Spring in Siberia: The Plight of the Vilyuy Sakha". Cultural Survival. 2010-03-25. Retrieved 2013-01-25.
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