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A dam is a barrier system built to stop, redirect, or regulate the flow of a river (or other Water Bodies). Dams are typically built as a component of a Hydroelectric Power Project. In the future, energy will be produced from the water that the dam has stored in a reservoir. The water that is kept in the dam reservoirs can also be used for drinking as well as irrigation. The various types of dams, which are categorised depending on their structure and usage, will be covered in this article.
Dams
A dam is a building constructed on a river, stream, or estuary to store water. It immediately contributes to ensuring that there is enough water available for agriculture, industry, and human use. Concrete dams & Embankments are the two main categories for modern dams. Streams that flow through small gorges are blocked by concrete or masonry dams, but rivers and streams that flow through large valleys are controlled by embankments. A dam can serve as the main building block of a multifunctional plan created to conserve the water resources on a regional scale. In developing nations, where a single dam may deliver important benefits linked to agricultural expansion, production of hydroelectric power, and industrial growth, multipurpose dams can be especially useful. However, owing to their effects on riparian habitats and migrating fish, dams have come under increased environmental scrutiny. A dam is a physical obstruction that prevents the passage of water, causing the creation of a reservoir. The main purpose of dam design is to use water to produce energy. This kind of electricity is referred to as hydroelectricity.Types of Dams
Gravity Dams
Gravity dams are made of masonry made of concrete or stone. They are designed to contain backwater by solely using the weight of material and its resistance against the base to resist the horizontal pressure of the water rushing against it. These are constructed in a stable manner that is separate from every other component of the dam.Arch Dam
A concrete dam that is curved upstream in the plan is known as an arch dam. It is designed such that when water pushes against the arch, hydrostatic pressure exerts pressure on the arch, causing the arch to slightly straighten and stabilise the surface since it pushes through its abutments or base. The most suitable location for an arch dam is a tight canyon or gorge with high, solid rock walls in order to support the construction and stresses.Arch – Gravity Dam
Both an arch dam and a gravity dam’s characteristics are present in an arch-gravity dam. It is a dam that bends upstream in a constricted curve that directs a large portion of water pressure toward the canyon’s rocky walls. The internal compression of dam by the water reduces the lateral force or the horizontal force acting on the structure.Embankment Dam
An embankment dam is a large manmade dam. Typically, it is created by placing and compacting a complicated semi-plastic mound with different amounts of rock, sand, mud, and clay. It has a solid, impermeable core for its surface and a natural, semi-pervious waterproof coating.Barrage
The amount of water which travels through a barrage, a form of low-head diversion dam, can be controlled by opening and closing a succession of broad gates. In order to use river water for irrigation and other systems, the framework has to monitor as well as maintain the elevation of the river upstream.Earth – Fill Dams
Earth-fill dams, also known as earthen dams, rolled-earth dams, or simply earth dams, are constructed as a simple embankment of well-compacted earth. A homogenous rolled-earth dam can contain a layer of a drain to catch sewage but is made completely of one kind of stone.List of Important Dams in India
| Dams | River | State |
| Bhavani Sagar dam | Bhavani | Tamil Nadu |
| Tungabhadra Dam | Tungabhadra | Karnataka |
| Maithon Dam | Barakar | Jharkhand |
| Bisalpur Dam | Banas | Rajasthan |
| Krishnarajasagar Dam | Kaveri | Karnataka |
| Mettur Dam | Kaveri | Tamil Nadu |
| Indira Sagar Dam | Narmada | Madhya Pradesh |
| Sardar Sarovar Dam | Narmada | Gujarat |
| Hirakud dam | Mahanadi | Odisha |
| Nagarjuna Sagar Dam | Krishna | Telangana |
| Bhakra Nangal Dam | Sutlej | Punjab-Himachal Pradesh Border |
| Tehri Dam | Bhagirathi | Uttarakhand |
| Cheruthoni Dam | Cheruthoni | Kerala |
Conclusion
A dam is a physical obstruction that restricts water movement and creates a reservoir. Dams are typically constructed to use water to generate electricity. Hydroelectricity is the name given to this type of electricity. Dams build reservoirs that serve multiple purposes, including flood control, irrigation, aquaculture, industrial use, human consumption, and navigability. There are following types of dams which are given as:- Arch Dam
- Gravity Dams
- Arch – Gravity Dam
- Embankment Dam
- Barrage
- Earth – Fill Dams
