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Dams
A barrier constructed across a waterway to control the flow or raise the level of water.
1,255 Questions
How do dams change the flow of a river?
They stop the natural flow of the water and can also cause a greater flow than previously possible by releasing the stored water.
Dams are typically built to retain water. Some manage or prevent water flow into certain areas (dikes). Dams are also built to be used for hydropower/pumped-storage hydroelectricity to provide energy.
What are the advantages and disadvantages for building large dams?
I believe PROS:
· Dams can store rain water or water directly from the river itself. Then, in case of a Drought, the dam will still have a relatively constant supply of water.
· Producing Power.
·
o Controls flooding & PROS:
o Dams can store rain water or water directly from the river itself. Then, in case of a Drought, the dam will still have a relatively constant supply of water.
o Producing Power.
o Controls flooding & provides recreational activities such as boating fishing and swimming, if the lake is not being used for drinking water (Dam Society).
o Simple design makes for inexpensive repairs and maintenance costs (Dam Society).
o Produce inexpensive (after completion) and clean power.
o Renewable energy source, because the water is not destroyed by passing through the dam.
o If needed, dams can be shut down instantly, where thermal plants take hours, and nuclear plants can take days! (Dam Society).
o Very few breakdowns.
o provides recreational activities such as boating fishing and swimming, if the lake is not being used for drinking water (Dam Society).
· Simple design makes for inexpensive repairs and maintenance costs (Dam Society).
· Produce inexpensive (after completion) and clean power.
· Renewable energy source, because the water is not destroyed by passing through the dam.
· If needed, dams can be shut down instantly, where thermal plants take hours, and nuclear plants can take days! (Dam Society).
· Very few breakdowns.
CONS:
· Hydroelectric power production require flooding of entire valleys and scenic areas.
· Disrupts natural seasonal changes in he river, and ecosystems can be destroyed.
· Ends flooding that help to clean out the silt in rivers, causing them to clog (Energy Laboratory).
· The silt that usually flows down to the Beaches and Estuaries is block by the dam.
· Studies show that the plant decay caused downstream of major dams produces as many greenhouse gasses as more conventional methods of producing electricity.
· Dams are expensive to build, and due to drought may become useless, or produce much less power than originally planned.
· A dam being build in Quebec will end up flooding an area as large as Switzerland (Energy Laboratory).
· Dams can break in a massive flash flood.
· Dams can store
rain water or water directly from the river itself. Then, in case of a Drought, the dam will still have a relatively constant supply of water.
· Producing Power.
Controls flooding & pro
What is the second largest dam in the world?
Actually, the world's second largest dam is in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. The dam holds back approximately 50 square kilometers of tailings from oil sands refining. If this dam were to burst it would cause the total destruction of the local ecosystem, as well as making the surrounding groundwater useless due to the presence of toxic heavy metals, and other known carcinogens.
Why are dams built on fast flowing rivers?
A river may be dammed to provide a reservoir for drinking water, or for producing electricity. A dam could also be built to regulate water flow, hold back water during drought, or slowly release water during heavy rain.
Why are dams built near river?
it is bcoz in a hydroelectric power station, fast flowing water spins the turbines. On a wind farm, the wind turbines spin due to fast wind and in the sea, in the sea, waves and the tide can be used to make a turbine spin.
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What are the benefits o hydroelectric dams?
One of the advantages of a hydro powered dam is that the energy it produces is considered renewable. This means that power can constantly be created because the fuel source will never run out. Another advantage is that they can be built wherever there is a large body of water.
Why are dams made thinner at the bottom?
This is because the pressure in a liquid increases with depth. This means that the pressure at the bottom of the dam is more. Hence it is more liable to break out from the dam as more pressure is exerted on the walls. So, the walls are thicker at the bottom.
Dams hold back water up to the level that they were designed for. They control/regulate the flow of water. Flood waters that come down rivers can be held back (up to the design point) from devastating places further down river. Coastal/sea flooding would not be stopped by dams - but sea walls and the like. Still, preventing river flood waters adding to coastal flooding might help the situation.
How did the Hoover Dam affect people?
It provided jobs during the depression, it provided a water reserve that spurred growth and agricultural irrigation, it provided cheap hydroelectric power, it ended flood damage and it provided a mighty fine recreational fishing hole.
How are man made dams different then beaver dams?
Well man made dams like the Hoover dam can support the water from overflowing while beaver dams a just basically homes.
What is the height of the worlds highest dam?
The worlds longest dam is Hirakud Dam in Orissa, India.
Which states are benefited by Bhakra Nangal dam?
"West Bengal" and "Jharkhand" benifit from "Damoder valley project".
