Tuyamuyun Hydro Complex

{{Infobox dam

| name = THC Main Dam

| name_official = Tuyamuyun Hydroengineering Complex

| image =

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| location_map = Uzbekistan

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| coordinates = {{coord|41|12|48.14|N|61|24|18.76|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| country = Uzbekistan/Turkmenistan

| location = Turtkul District, Republic of Karakalpakstan/Dasoguz, Lebap Region

| purpose = Irrigation, power

| status = O

| construction_began = 1969

| opening = {{Start date and age|1983}}

| demolished =

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| dam_type = Gravity

| dam_crosses = Amu Darya River

| dam_length = {{Convert|141|m|ft|abbr=on}}

| dam_height = {{Convert|25|m|ft|abbr=on}}

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| res_name = Channel Reservoir

| res_capacity_total = {{Convert|2300000000|m3|acre.ft|abbr=on}}

| res_capacity_active =

| res_capacity_inactive=

| res_catchment =

| res_surface = {{Convert|303|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}

| res_max_length = {{Convert|102|km|mi|abbr=on}}

| res_max_width =

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| res_elevation = {{Convert|130|m|ft|abbr=on}}

| res_tidal_range =

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| plant_commission = 1983

| plant_decommission =

| plant_type =

| plant_turbines = 6 x 25 MW

| plant_hydraulic_head =

| plant_capacity = 150 MW

| plant_annual_gen = 571 GWh{{cite web|title=Building of Small HPP-2 at Andijan water basin|url=http://cdm.unfccc.int/UserManagement/FileStorage/ZH2MA4CES1YJ65WRKTGBI9UPXNFQV7|publisher=United Nations CDM|access-date=15 January 2015|date=3 February 2010}}

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The Tuyamuyun Hydro Complex (THC) is a system of four interconnected reservoirs and a series of canals on the lower Amu Darya River, bordering Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Its primary purpose is to provide water for irrigation in Xorazm, Karakalpakstan and Daşoguz regions of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and as far north as Kazakhstan.{{cite book|last1=Qi|first1=edited by Jiaguo|last2=Evered|first2=Kyle T.|title=Environmental problems of Central Asia and their economic, social and security impacts|date=2008|publisher=Springer|location=Dordrecht, the Netherlands|isbn=978-1402089602|pages=284–287|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AOLwNLF_RkUC&dq=tuyamuyun+reservoir&pg=PA284|accessdate=14 January 2015}} The complex is located about {{Convert|74|km|mi|abbr=on}} southeast of Urgench in Xorazm Region, Uzbekistan and about {{Convert|2|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of Gazojak in Lebap Region, Turkmenistan.{{cite book|last1=Olsson|first1=edited by Oliver|last2=Bauer|first2=Melanie|title=Interstate water resource risk management : towards a sustainable future for the Aral Basin (JAYHUN)|date=2010|publisher=IWA Publishing|location=London|isbn=978-1843393085|pages=87–90|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_AkmmEztL2kC&dq=tuyamuyun+reservoir&pg=PA88|accessdate=14 January 2015}} It was constructed between 1969 and 1983. Aside from irrigation, the complex also provides water for industrial and municipal uses. A 150 MW power station on the main dam contains six 25 MW hydroelectric turbine-generators.{{cite web|title=Irrigation and Drainage Systems in Khorezm, Uzbekistan|url=http://www.zef.de/fileadmin/webfiles/downloads/projects/khorezm/downloads/Publications/wps/WP12_Awan.pdf|publisher=Zentrum für Entwicklungsforschung Center for Development Research|accessdate=15 January 2015|page=9|date=December 2011}}

The main dam (THC Main Dam) is located on the Amu Darya, straddling the border of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. It is the center-piece of the complex. The main dam is a {{Convert|141|m|ft|abbr=on}} long and {{Convert|25|m|ft|abbr=on}} high gravity dam. It creates the Channel Reservoir which has a storage capacity of about {{Convert|2300000000|m3|acre.ft|abbr=on}} and length of {{Convert|102|km|mi|abbr=on}}. Water from the Channel Reservoir can be fed into the adjacent Kaparas and Sultansanjar Reservoirs for later use. The Sultansanjar Reservoir is connected via a canal to the Koshbulak Reservoir which lies just east. When first completed, all four reservoirs had a capacity of about {{Convert|7800000000|m3|acre.ft|abbr=on}} but due to silt build-up, this had been reduced to about {{Convert|6700000000|m3|acre.ft|abbr=on}} by 2001.

A system of canals off the main dam supply a network of irrigation canals to the various regions for irrigation. Diversion of river water into these canals, along with similar diversions of water from the nearby Syr Darya River, has greatly contributed to the desiccation of most of the Aral Sea, an endorrheic lake basin. Prior to damming and diversion, the two rivers were the main sources of surface water that replenished the lake.{{Cite web |date=2012 |title=The True Costs of Cotton: Cotton Production and Water Insecurity |url=https://ejfoundation.org/resources/downloads/EJF_Aral_report_cotton_net_ok.pdf |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=Environmental Justice Foundation}}