Location Khuzestan, Iran Operator(s) IWPRDC Height 200 m (660 ft) Address Khuzestan Province, Iran Impound Karun | Opening date 1976 Impounds Karun River Length 380 m (1,250 ft) Phone +98 913 108 5476 Type of dam Arch dam | |
The Shahid Abbaspour Dam (also known as Karun-1 Dam) is a large arch dam providing hydroelectricity from the Karun River; it is located about 50 kilometres (31 mi) northeast of Masjed Soleiman, in the province of Khuzestan, Iran, and originally completed in 1976, and formerly named "Reza Shah Kabir Dam". The dam was the first of a series of dams planned for development on the Karun River.
The dam is a double-curvature concrete arch dam, 200 metres (660 ft) high from the foundation rock. Its crest width is 6 metres (20 ft). The arch dam design was chosen for the narrow, rocky gorge where it is located. The double-curvature arch design withstands the pressure created by the reservoir with a minimum of concrete, because the shape transmits the force of the reservoir downward and laterally, against the rock foundation; this has the effect of strengthening the dam concrete and its foundation by keeping it in compression.
The dam site houses two power stations, one built in 1976 and another built in 1995. Each contains four water turbines connected to electric generators of 250 megawatts (340,000 hp), for a combined generating capacity of 2,000 megawatts (2,700,000 hp). The dam's electrical output is connected to the national electrical grid, with most generation occurring during periods of peak demand for electricity.