Freedom Dam
{{Infobox dam
| name = Freedom Dam
| image = tabaqah assad.jpg
| image_caption = Baath Dam (right), Tabqa Dam (centre), and Lake Assad (left) from space, June 1996. North is in the upper left corner of the image.
| name_official = سد الحرية
| dam_crosses = Euphrates
| res_name = Freedom Dam Reservoir
| location = Raqqa Governorate, Syria
| dam_length =
| dam_height = {{convert|14|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| dam_width_base =
| construction_began = 1983
| opening = 1986
| cost =
| res_capacity_total = {{convert|0.09|km3|cumi|2|abbr=on}}
| res_catchment =
| res_surface =
| plant_turbines =
| plant_capacity = 81 MW
| coordinates = {{Coord|35|53|07|N|38|44|50|E|region:SY_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| location_map = Syria
}}
The Freedom Dam ({{langx|ar|سد الحرية|lit=}}, {{langx|ku|Bendava Azadî}}, {{langx|syc|ܣܟܪܐ ܕܚܐܪܘܬܐ|Sekro d'Ḥirutho}}), formerly the Baath Dam, is a dam on the Euphrates, located {{convert|22|km}} upstream from the city of Raqqa in Raqqa Governorate, Syria. Construction of the dam started in 1983 and was finished in 1986. It is intended to generate hydroelectric power as well as regulate the irregular flow from the Tabqa Dam, which is located {{convert|18|km}} upstream from the Freedom Dam. These irregularities in the flow from the Tabqa Dam are caused by changes in the electricity demand.{{harvnb|Shapland|1997|pp=110–111}} The Freedom Dam is {{convert|14|m|ft}} high and the installed water turbines can generate 81 MW. The storage capacity of the Freedom Dam Reservoir is {{convert|0.09|km3}}.{{harvnb|Kliot|1994|p=138}}
The Freedom Dam is one of three dams on the Syrian Euphrates, the other two being the Tabqa Dam, and the Tishrin Dam {{convert|80|km}} south of the Syria-Turkish border. Like the Baath Dam, the Tishrin Dam is also functionally related to the Tabqa Dam. Construction of the Tishrin Dam was partly motivated by the disappointing performance of the hydroelectric power station in the Tabqa Dam.{{harvnb|Collelo|1987}} Before the Syrian Civil War, Syria had plans to construct a fourth dam – the Halabiye Dam – on the Euphrates, downstream from the Freedom Dam.{{harvnb|Jamous|2009}} Before its renaming to the Freedom Dam, the dam was named after the Syrian Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party.{{cite news|title=Syria revives important dam in Al-Raqqa|publisher=Al Masdar News|date=December 4, 2019|access-date=December 4, 2019|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syria-revives-important-dam-in-al-raqqa/|archive-date=May 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200511085825/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syria-revives-important-dam-in-al-raqqa/|url-status=dead}}
Syrian Civil War
On 4 February 2013, opposition forces captured the dam, a week before capturing the Tabqa Dam.{{cite news|url=http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2013/02/04/264229.html|title=الجيش السوري الحر يقتحم سد "البعث" على الفرات|last=Al Arabiya|date=4 February 2013|publisher=Al Arabiya|access-date=12 February 2013}}{{cite news|url= https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2013/02/11/rebels-fight-regime-troops-for-syrias-largest-dam |title=Syrian rebels capture country's largest dam |last=AP|date=February 11, 2013 |publisher=U.S. News & World Report |access-date=February 11, 2013}} The Baath Dam was captured from the ISIL by the Syrian Democratic Forces on 4 June 2017. Upon doing so, they renamed it the "Freedom Dam" ({{langx|ku|Bendava Azadî}}; {{langx|ar|سد الحرية}}; {{langx|syc|ܣܟܪܐ ܕܚܐܪܘܬܐ|Sekro d'Ḥirutho}}).{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-raqqa-idUSKBN18V0EX|title=U.S.-backed Syrian forces seize dam west of Raqqa from Islamic State: SDF|work=Reuters|date=4 June 2017}} ISIL used the complex as a prison.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-22 |title=The ISIS Prison at Mansura Dam: Investigating the Fates of Detainees |url=https://syriaaccountability.org/the-isis-prison-at-mansura-dam-investigating-the-fates-of-detainees/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=Syria Justice & Accountability Centre |language=en}} In 2019, control of the dam was given to the Syrian government after the Turkish invasion of Northern Syria.
See also
{{stack|{{Portal|Asia|Water|Renewable energy}}}}
Notes
{{Reflist}}
References
{{ref begin}}
- {{citation |title=Syria: A Country Study |last=Collelo |first=Thomas |year=1987 |publisher=GPO for the Library of Congress |location=Washington |url=http://countrystudies.us/syria/ |oclc=44250830}}
- {{citation |url=http://studiaorontica.org/library/Circulaire_Hallabiyen.pdf |title=Nouveaux aménagements hydrauliques sur le Moyen Euphrate syrienne. Appel à projets archéologiques d'urgence |last1=Jamous |first1=Bassam |year=2009 |work=studiaorontica.org/ |publisher=DGAM |access-date=14 December 2009|language=fr}}
- {{citation |title=Water Resources and Conflict in the Middle East |last=Kliot |first=Nurit |year=1994 |publisher=Routledge |location=Milton Park |isbn=0-415-09752-5 |url=https://archive.org/details/waterresourcesco00klio |url-access=registration }}
- {{citation |title=Rivers of discord: international water disputes in the Middle East |last=Shapland |first=Greg |year=1997 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |location=New York |isbn=978-0-312-16522-2 }}
{{ref end}}
{{commons category}}
{{Euphrates dams}}
Category:Hydroelectric power stations in Syria
Category:Dams on the Euphrates River
Category:Buildings and structures in Raqqa Governorate