Official name Midmar Dam Location Howick, KwaZulu-Natal Length 1,423 m Height 30 m | Country South Africa Opening date 1965 Surface area 17.88 km² Impound Umgeni River | |
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Purpose Municipal and industrial use Type of dam Combination gravity and earth fill dam Owner Department of Water and Sanitation Similar Howick Falls, Albert Falls Dam, Inanda Dam, Nagle Dam, Nelson Mandela Capture | ||
Midmar Dam is a combined gravity & earth-fill type dam and recreation area located near Howick and Pietermaritzburg, 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 KwaZulu-Natal. The dam's primary purpose is to serve for municipal and industrial use and its hazard potential has been ranked high (3).
Map of Midmar Dam, Howick, 3290, South Africa
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 areas. The dam also hosts a yacht club, and lock up storage facilities for boats.
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.