Gariep Dam#External links

{{Infobox dam

| name = Gariep Dam

| image = GariepDam.jpg

| image_caption =

| location_map = South Africa

| name_official = Gariep Dam

| dam_crosses = Orange River

| res_name = Gariep Dam Reservoir

| location = Border of Eastern Cape and Free State, South Africa

| owner = Department of Water Affairs

| dam_length = {{convert|914|m|abbr=on}}

| dam_height = {{convert|88|m|abbr=on}}

| dam_type = AG

| dam_width_base =

| construction_began = 1965

| opening = 1971

| cost =

| res_capacity_total = {{convert|5340000|ML|hm3+m3}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dwaf.gov.za/hydrology/applets/weekly/deltaweekly.asp|title=State of Dams in Provinces as on 20080901|publisher=Department of Water Affairs and Forestry|access-date=2008-09-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421210812/http://www.dwaf.gov.za/hydrology/applets/weekly/deltaweekly.asp|archive-date=2008-04-21}}

| res_surface = {{convert|374|km2|abbr=on}}

| plant_operator = Eskom

| plant_turbines = 4 x {{convert|90|MW|abbr=on}}

| plant_capacity = {{convert|360|MW|abbr=on}} (max)

| plant_annual_gen = {{convert|889|GWh|abbr=on}}[http://www.eskom.co.za/Whatweredoing/ElectricityGeneration/PowerStations/Pages/Gariep_Hydroelectric_Power_Station.aspx Eskom website]

| coordinates = {{coord|30|37|25.43|S|25|30|23.81|E|type:landmark_region:ZA|display=inline,title}}

| extra =

}}{{More citations needed|date=July 2023}}

The Gariep Dam is located in South Africa, near the town of Norvalspont, bordering the Free State and Eastern Cape provinces. Its primary purpose is for irrigation, domestic and industrial use as well as for power generation. It the largest dam in South Africa.

Name

The Gariep Dam, at its commission in 1971, was originally named the Hendrik Verwoerd Dam after Hendrik Verwoerd, the Prime Minister before and after 31 May 1961, when the country changed from the Union of South Africa to the Republic of South Africa. However, after the end of apartheid, the Verwoerd name was considered unsuitable. The name was officially changed to Gariep Dam on 4 October 1996. Gariep is Khoekhoe for "river", the original name of the Orange River (the longest river in South Africa).{{cite web |title=Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain) |url=https://archive.org/details/DictionaryOfSouthernAfricanPlaceNames |publisher=Human Science Research Council|page=171}}

Location

The dam is on the Orange River about {{convert|48|km}} north-east of Colesberg and {{convert|208|km}} south of Bloemfontein. It is in a gorge at the entrance to the Ruigte Valley some {{convert|5|km}} east of Norvalspont. The dam crest is some 1300 m (4250 ft) above sea level.

Dimensions

The wall is 88 m high and has a crest length of 914 m and contains approximately 1.73 million m³ of concrete. The Gariep Dam is the largest storage reservoir in South Africa. In South African English, 'dam' refers both to the structure and the water volume it retains. Gariep Dam has a total storage capacity of approximately {{convert|5340000|ML|hm3}} and a surface area of more than {{convert|370|km2}} when full. The hydro-electrical power station houses four 90 MW generators.

Design type and contractors

The structure is a concrete gravity-arch hybrid dam. This design was chosen as the gorge is too wide for a complete arch so flanking walls form gravity abutments to the central arch.

It was built by Dumez, a French construction company.

Gariep Dam Bridge

{{Infobox bridge

| name = Gariep Dam bridge

| image = Gariep Dam, Free State, South Africa (20349874268).jpg

| carries = 14300 tons

| width = Doubleway

| toll = None

}}

Rivers and spruits flowing into the dam

Orange River[http://www.dwaf.gov.za/iwqs/gis_apps/dam/dams/gariep.htm Dept of Water Affairs website]
Caledon River
Brakspruit
Broekspruit
Oudagspruit
Palmietspruit
Slykspruit

Water consumption, outflow, derivative usages and diversions

It must be carefully managed by balancing the supply-and-demand of this water resource usage for its derivatives of electricity generation, irrigation(food) and municipal drinking water. There is trade off in the water usage for electricity and inter-basin transfer for water in other areas like Port Elizabeth.

= Orange–Fish Water Scheme =

The scheme diverts water from the Orange River to the Great Fish River valley.{{Cite web |title=FISH-SUNDAYS TRANSFER SCHEME |url=http://www.dwa.gov.za/orange/Mid_Orange/fish-sun.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903184053/http://www.dwa.gov.za/orange/Mid_Orange/fish-sun.htm |archive-date=2021-09-03}}{{Cite web |title=Department of Water Affairs: Orange River Basin |url=http://www.dwa.gov.za/orange/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616222112/http://www.dwa.gov.za/orange/ |archive-date=2022-06-16}}

Great Fish River Valley, then via Grassridge Dam, ElandsDrift Wier, Cookhouse Tunnel, De MistKraal Weirhttps://www.gfrwua.com/orange-river-project {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002002603/https://www.gfrwua.com/orange-river-project |date=2020-10-02 }} | Great Fish River Water Users Association since 1920 into
Sundays River Valley (Canals and Tunnels Scheme) North-West of Port Elizabeth, then via Darlington Dam, Korhaansdrift Weir, Canal, Scheepersvlakte Balancing Dam,https://www.gfrwua.com/orange-river-project {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002002603/https://www.gfrwua.com/orange-river-project |date=2020-10-02 }} Great Fish River Water Users Association since 1920 Bulk water Pipelinehttp://www.dwa.gov.za/orange/Mid_Orange/fish-sun.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817190145/http://www.dwa.gov.za/orange/Mid_Orange/fish-sun.htm |date=2021-08-17 }} Department of Water - Fish-Sundays to
Port Elizabeth, Nooitgedracht Water Treatment Works,{{citation|title=Nooitgedracht Water Treatment Works - See External Links Documentary}} since 1992 with water from the Sundays River Valley{{cite web |title=Map Illustration - Further details |url=http://www.dwa.gov.za/orange/Mid_Orange/fish-sun.htm |website=Department of Water - Fish-Sundays |access-date=2020-09-22 |archive-date=2021-08-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817190145/http://www.dwa.gov.za/orange/Mid_Orange/fish-sun.htm |url-status=dead }} (See External links for more video documentaries on construction and drone footage for canal system.)

File:Oviston Orange-Fish Tunnel Inlet - panoramio.jpg

= Orange-Fish River Tunnel =

At Oviston, on the south bank of the reservoir, is the inlet of the Orange-Fish River Tunnel, allowing water to be diverted to the Great Fish River and most of the Eastern Cape's western parts.

= Gariep hydroelectric power plant =

A 360 MW hydroelectric power plant is one is run by Eskom. Four 90 MW hydro turbines (which are remotely controlled from Gauteng){{Cite web |title=ESKOM’S HYDROELECTRIC POWER STATIONS – GARIEP AND VANDERKLOOF |url=https://www.eskom.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/HY-0005-Orange-River-Hydros-Rev-11.pdf}}

Gallery

File:Gariep dam overflowing in Jan 2011.jpg|Gariep Dam overflowing in January 2011

File:Sunset at Oviston Gariep photo by Siloam Village.JPG|Sunset at Oviston Nature Reserve on the dam's southern shores

File:GC Gariep Dam (7).JPG|Road sign heading for the dam wall

File:GC Gariep Dam (11).JPG|View over the lake

File:GC Gariep Dam (14).JPG|Forever Holiday Resort at Gariep Dam

References

External links

=Videos - Opening | Documentaries | Construction =

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW465-z4TvI Official Opening of the Orange River Dam in South Africa] on YouTube
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW465-z4TvI Short Documentary on the dam construction and motivations thereof (1 of 3 planned dams)] on YouTube
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naTnBJzu3bg History of the town Construction] on YouTube
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvSQVyRCc8A Orange-Fish River Tunnel Basin Transfer Schema Construction 1972 - Technical illustrations & diagrams](Port Elizabeth) on YouTube
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVQx86rOuUc Orange-Fish River Tunnel Basin Transfer Schema Construction - Footage] on YouTube
[https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1BT-OCO0OGXcpk7w7R3dxvIbKcie7OR92?usp=sharing History of the construction and where it all started, rainfall, diagrams, extra]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-op-NGV5dUQ Orange River Transfer Scheme to Port Elizabeth Documentary - Nooitgedracht Water Treatment Works] on YouTube (Carte Blanche)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVQx86rOuUc The excavation of the Orange-Fish Tunnel]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtD3L7N3qqs ORANGE / FISH & LOWER SUNDAYS RIVERWATER SUPPLY SCHEMES]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqpesNDQ4II Part 1 | From the towering inlet to the town that disappeared forever | Oviston to Midshaft]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6niJuAezQ4 Part 2 | The road that time simply forgot | The Bulhoek Pass]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIFH4XICHs4 Part 3 | Ghost town of empty houses and empty swimming pools | Teebus to The Outlet]

=Videos - Aerial | Presentation=

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o6S7M39mzg Full Flood over gates January 2000] on YouTube
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqKB5Q7vHR0 4K Aerial footage of Dam, bridge, campsite, amenities] on YouTube
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cxFoo6jliM 4K Aerial footage not in flood] on YouTube

=Other=

[https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.2762415140704411&type=3 Gariep Dam - Roots - Largest in the Country - Construction Posters, Origins and Designs from inside the dam wall]
[http://www.eskom.co.za/Whatweredoing/ElectricityGeneration/PowerStations/Pages/Gariep_Hydroelectric_Power_Station.aspx Gariep Hydroelectric Power Station] on the Eskom-Website