Los Leones Dam

Los Leones Dam
Location of Los Leones Dam
Country Chile
Location Santiago
Coordinates 32°58′22″S 70°15′18″W / 32.97278°S 70.25500°WCoordinates: 32°58′22″S 70°15′18″W / 32.97278°S 70.25500°W
Status Operational
Construction began 1980
Opening date 1999
Dam and spillways
Type of dam Embankment, tailings
Impounds Los Leones River
Height 160 m (525 ft) (axis)

The Los Leones Dam is a tailings dam on Los Leones River, a tributary of Blanco River, about 56 km (35 mi) northeast of Santiago, in Los Andes Province, Chile. The dam was constructed in segments between 1980 and 1999 and is now used only for emergencies.[1] The dam is 135 m (443 ft) tall on its upstream face and 200 m (656 ft) tall on its downstream face. The height at its axis though is 160 m (525 ft). It is one of the tallest tailings dams in the world.[2]

References

  1. ICME; Metals, International Council on, Programme, the Environment ; UNEP, United Nations Environment (1998). Case studies on tailings management. Paris, France: UNEP. p. 31. ISBN 1-895720-29-X.
  2. "Seminar on Safe Tailings Dam Constructions". European Commission. 20–21 September 2001. p. 57. Retrieved 7 August 2011.