| Midmar Dam | |
|---|---|
Midmar Dam |
|
| Official name | Midmar Dam |
| Location | KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| Coordinates | 29°30′S 30°11′E / 29.5°S 30.183°E |
| Opening date | 1965 |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Height | 32 metres (105 ft) |
| Length | 1,338 metres (4,390 ft) |
| Impounds | Umgeni River[1] |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Midmar Dam Reservoir |
| Capacity | 235,400 megalitres (235.4 hm³)[2] |
| Surface area | 1,564 hectares (3,860 acres) |
Midmar Dam is a dam and recreation area near Pietermaritzburg (near Howick), South Africa. Boating, swimming, waterskiing, picnicing, and fishing are popular pastimes at Midmar Dam. Each year, the Midmar Mile swimming race is held there, which organizers call "the world's largest open water swimming event". Over 20,000 entries were received for the 2009 event. Midmar Dam is located in the Midlands of Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Morgenzon has camping and caravanning sites, both powered and non-powered, and Eikedal and Blackhurst Peninsula (start of the Midmar Mile) are both stunning picnic area. The dam also hosts a yacht club, and lock up storage facilities for boats. There are both chalets and log cabins at the dam too.
No matter what time of year one visits the dam, it is essential to have clothing/gear for both hot and cold weather - the weather changes are rapid, and do not always correspond with the weather in the surrounding area.
Midmar Dam is easily accessible from the N3 motorway.
Coordinates: 29°30′S 30°11′E / 29.5°S 30.183°E
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