Mesochora Dam

Mesochora Dam
Location of Mesochora Dam in Greece
Country Greece
Location Mesochora, Trikala
Coordinates 39°27′51.86″N 21°18′15.08″E / 39.4644056°N 21.3041889°E / 39.4644056; 21.3041889Coordinates: 39°27′51.86″N 21°18′15.08″E / 39.4644056°N 21.3041889°E / 39.4644056; 21.3041889
Purpose River diversion, irrigation, power
Status Complete, not commissioned
Construction began 1996
Opening date 2001
Owner(s) Public Power Corporation of Greece
Dam and spillways
Type of dam Embankment, earth-fill
Impounds Acheloos River
Height 150 m (490 ft)
Length 340 m (1,120 ft)
Dam volume 5,000,000 m3 (6,500,000 cu yd)[1]
Reservoir
Total capacity 358,000,000 m3 (290,000 acre·ft)
Surface area 7.8 km2 (3.0 sq mi)
Power station
Type Conventional
Turbines 2 x 81 MW Francis-type (planned)
Installed capacity 162 MW (planned)

The Mesochora Dam is concrete-face rock-fill dam on the Acheloos River near Mesochora in Trikala, Greece. The 150 m (490 ft) tall dam is part of the Acheloos River Diversion which is intended to divert a portion of the Acheloos west to irrigate 240,000–380,000 ha (590,000–940,000 acres) in the Thessaly plains. The project includes the Mesochora, Sykia, Mouzaki and Pyli Dams along with a 17.4 km (10.8 mi) long channel.

The idea for an Acheloos to Thessaly diversion project was first envisioned in the 1930s but a lack of funding precluded construction. Interest in the project was revived in 1984 and what was supposed to be a small dam at Mesochora apart from the diversion project was increased in size to support to river diversion. Over the next several years there was a series of legal battles that led to construction stalling, most recently in 2005.[2] Opponents of the scheme cite significant changes to the environment, flooding of villages and that the scheme will divert 600,000,000 m3 (490,000 acre·ft) of water annually from the Acheloos. Supporters call on the benefit to the lucrative cotton crops it will help irrigate and the dam's planned 162 MW hydroelectric power plant.[3] The Mesochora Dam was completed in January 2001 but the reservoir has yet to be filled and the power plant has subsequently not been commissioned due to legal battles.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Large Dams in Greece". Greek Commission on Large Dams. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  2. ↑ "Large Dams in Greece". National Technical University of Athens. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  3. ↑ "Acheloos River Diversion Project, Greece, Greece". Water Technology. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  4. ↑ "Hydroelectric Plants in Greece - Macedonia". IndustCards. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
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