Purpose Water supply Opening date 1972 | Status Operational | |
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Dam volume 265,500 ML (58.4×10^ imp gal; 70.1×10^ US gal) Similar Territory Wildlife Park, Waduk Ir Sutami, Katherine River, Alice Springs Reptile C, Alice Springs Desert Pa | ||
Darwin river dam
The Darwin River Dam is located in Australia's Northern Territory on the Darwin River. The water catchment it contains is the major source for the city of Darwin.
Contents
The dam can hold up to 259,000 megalitres of water (265,500 ML (58.4×10^9 imp gal; 70.1×10^9 US gal)) which is half the volume in Sydney Harbour or eleven times bigger than the Manton Dam.
The Darwin River Dam is an embankment-type dam. It is ungated with no spillway regulation possible. The dam relies on the annual wet season to be replenished. Toward the end of this season, the dam sometimes overflows. Most years spilling occurs, and is considered normal. Depending on rainfall amounts, this overflow can last from days to weeks.
The water in this dam is considered to be one of the most pristine on Earth. In order to preserve this quality, the catchment and reservoir policy prohibits recreational use with substantial penalties imposed for trespassing. Also, there is no Cabomba, an aquatic weed genus that can affect water quality.
It was opened by William McMahon (the Prime Minister at the time) on 29 June 1972. The cost of construction was $9 million.
Darwin river dam crane job
