| Hwanggang Dam | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | |
| Construction began | 2002[1] |
| Opening date | 2007[2] |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Imjin River |
Hwanggang Dam is a dam on the Imjin River in North Korea. Located approximately 26 miles (42 km) north of the Korean Demilitarized Zone, the dam has an estimated capacity of 400,000,000 short tons (360,000,000 t).[2] Construction began in 2002 and was completed in 2007.[1] The stated aims of the project are to generate hydropower and provide water for crop irrigation.[2][3]
In September 2009, without warning, North Korea released a massive amount of water from the dam, causing large floods in South Korea that killed six.[2] An estimated 40,000,000 short tons (36,000,000 t) of water was dumped during the flood, causing the water level at the border of Gyeonggi-do to leap from 7.5 feet (2.3 m) to 15.1 feet (4.6 m).[3][2]
To protect itself against the perceived threat, South Korea is building two dams in the area, but they will not be completed until 2010 and 2012.[3]