Mingachevir Dam

Mingachevir Dam
Dam and reservoir
Mingachevir Dam is located in Azerbaijan Location of Mingachevir Dam in Azerbaijan
Country	Azerbaijan
Location	Mingachevir
Coordinates
Purpose	Power, irrigation
Status	Operational
Construction began	1945
Opening date	1953 (1953)
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Embankment, earth-fill
Impounds	Kura River
Height	80 m (260 ft)
Length	1,550 m (5,090 ft)
Reservoir
Creates	Mingachevir reservoir
Total capacity	15.730 km3 (12,753,000 acre⋅ft)
Active capacity	9 km3 (7,300,000 acre⋅ft)
Surface area	605 km2 (234 sq mi)
Max. length	70 km (43 mi)
Power station
Operator(s)	Azerenerji
Commission date	1953/2000
Type	Conventional
Hydraulic head	65 m (213 ft)
Turbines	6 x 70 MW Francis-type
Installed capacity	420 MW (560,000 hp)

The Mingachevir Dam is an earth-fill embankment dam on the Kura River just north of Mingachevir in Azerbaijan. The dam serves several purposes to include hydroelectric power production and water storage for irrigation. Its power station is the largest hydroelectric-type in the country with an installed capacity of 420 megawatts (560,000 hp). Mingachevir reservoir, behind the dam, supplies water to the Upper Qarabag and Upper Sirvan Channels which help irrigate about 1,000,000 ha (2,500,000 acres) of farmland in the country. The dam was constructed between 1945 and 1953. Its six Francis turbine-generators were overhauled or replaced with 70 megawatts (94,000 hp) sets in 2000. Mingachevir reservoir has a storage capacity of 15.730 cubic kilometres (12,753,000 acre⋅ft), covering 605 km² (234 sq mi). The length of the dam is 1,550 metres (5,090 ft), its width is 16 metres (52 ft) and height is 80 m (260 ft).