Sterkfontein Dam
| Sterkfontein Dam | |
|---|---|
 Sterkfontein Dam Reservoir seen from the R74 | |
  | |
| Official name | Sterkfontein Dam |
| Location | Free State |
| Coordinates | 28°26′54″S 29°01′22″E / 28.4484°S 29.0228°ECoordinates: 28°26′54″S 29°01′22″E / 28.4484°S 29.0228°E |
| Opening date | 1980 (renovated 1986)[1] |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Earth fill dam |
| Impounds | Nuwejaarspruit[1] |
| Height | 97 metres (320 ft)[1] |
| Length | 3,060 metres (3,350 yd)[1] |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Sterkfontein Dam Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 2,616,000 ML (2,121,000 acre·ft)[1] |
| Catchment area | 195 km2 (75 sq mi) |
| Surface area | 69.37 km2 (26.78 sq mi)[1] |
The Sterkfontein Dam, located just outside the town of Harrismith, in the Free State, province of South Africa, is part of the Tugela-Vaal Water Project, and located on the Nuwejaarspruit, a tributary of the Wilge River in the upper catchment area of the Vaal River.[2]
Characteristics
The dam receives its water via the Tugela-Vaal Project which is a pumped-storage scheme involving the net transfer of up to 630 million cubic metres (510,000 acre·ft) of water from KwaZulu-Natal. This is stored in the Sterkfontein Dam and released to the Vaal Dam via the Wilge River when needed. The Sterkfontein Dam is a highly effective reservoir, since it has the depth to store a large amount of water, with very little loss to evaporation. The Vaal Dam lake (reservoir) by comparison has a large surface area and is relatively shallow, which results in a higher rate of evaporation. The Sterkfontein Dam was originally commissioned in 1977 and comprised a 69-metre (226 ft) high earthfill embankment 2,290 metres (7,510 ft) long with no spillway. It was subsequently raised in 1980 to its current height of 93 metres (305 ft) with a crest length of 3,060 metres (10,040 ft) and a full supply capacity of 2,656 million cubic metres (2,153,000 acre·ft). At full supply, it has a surface area of no more than 70 km2. The extended dam was commissioned in 1980, and has a capacity of 2,616,950 cubic metres (2,121.60 acre·ft), with a surface area of only 67.26 square kilometres (25.97 sq mi), the dam wall is 93 metres (305 ft) high. The dam wall contains 17 million cubic metres (600×106 cu ft) of material making it the largest dam wall in South Africa with regard to volume, while the reservoir formed by the dam is the third largest in the country. The dam mainly serves for domestic and industrial use and its hazard potential has been ranked high (3).
The Driekloof Dam next to it, is regarded as a separated dam and reservoir, and is not included in the above figures.
Protected areas
The Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve is a protected area located by the dam.[3]
Photo gallery
-
The first of three information boards posted at a vehicle rest area overlooking the reservoir just off the R74.
-
The second information board.
-
The third information board.
-
A campsite with chalets at the water's edge. Note the dry conditions (conducive to bush fires) in the wintertime.
-
Camping area at the water's edge.
-
The earth wall on the eastern side of the Sterkfontein Dam.
-
The weir separating the Sterkfontein Dam from the Driekloof Dam.
See also
- List of reservoirs and dams in South Africa
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "STERKFONTEIN DAM". Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
- ↑ Upper Vaal WMA 8
- ↑ Free State Tourism - Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sterkfontein Dam. |
 The weir separating the Driekloof Dam reservoir from the Sterkfontein Dam reservoir. at Rand Water |
