Trisha Shetty (Editor)

Canyon Dam (Sri Lanka)

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Country
  
Status
  
Operational

Type of dam
  
Impound
  
Purpose
  
Power

Opening date
  
February 1974

Canyon Dam (Sri Lanka)

Location
  
Laxapana Falls,Central Province

Similar
  
Maskeliya Dam, Bowatenna Dam, Kalu Ganga Dam, Udawalawe Dam, Rambakan Oya Dam

The Canyon Dam is a large arch-gravity dam built across the Maskeliya Oya, 4.5 km (2.8 mi) upstream of the iconic Laxapana Falls, in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. The associated power station plays a major role in the national power grid, due to its significant output.

Reservoir and power station

The dam creates the relatively small Canyon Reservoir, measuring at 450 m (1,480 ft) and 350 m (1,150 ft) in its longest length and width, respectively. The reservoir's primary source of water is the Maskeliya Oya, with additional water discharged from the Canyon Hydroelectric Power Station, located at the same site.

Water from the Canyon Reservoir is further transferred through a penstock to the New Laxapana Hydroelectric Power Station, located 7 km (4.3 mi) downstream, at 06°55′05″N 80°29′31″E, 1.5 km (0.9 mi) northwest of Kiriwan Eliya. The power station consists of two hydroelectric generators of 50 MW each, both of which were commissioned in February 1974.

References

Canyon Dam (Sri Lanka) Wikipedia