DAMS

INTRODUCTION
A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the
flow of surface water or underground streams.
Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress
floods but also provide water for activities such as
irrigation, human consumption, industrial use,
Agriculture, etc.
DEFINITION
Dam is a barrier constructed to hold back water
and raise its level, forming a reservoir used to
generate electricity or as a water supply. dams
have a section called a spillway or weir over
which or through which it is intended that
water will flow either intermittently or
continuously.

TYPES OF DAMS
Dams are classified into two different types, they
are
 Structure
 Height
 Purpose
 Based on structure dams are classified into
 Timber dams
 Embankment dams
 Brick gravity dam.
 Hollow gravity dam.
 Concrete gravity dam etc.

Based on height dams are classified into

 Low dam / Small dam
 Medium dams
 High dam / Large dams
Based on purpose dams are classified into
 Water supply dam/Irrigation dams
 Power dams
 Multipurpose dams
 Flood control dams
Purposes of dams
 Irrigation
 Hydropower Generation
 Flood Prevention
 Water Supply
 Inland Navigation
 Recreation
 Mine Tailing etc.
 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT DAMS

 Dams generate 16% of the world's

electricity.
 It irrigates food crops for 12-15% of the
world's population.
 Nurek Dam is the tallest dam in the world on
the Vakhsh River in Tajikistan. [984
feet(300meters)].
 Inks Dam is the smallest Dam in the
world[96.5feet(29.4meters)].
 There are 57,985 large Dams in the world.

QUESTIONS
1.For an industrialist building a Dam is
development. Why?
Ans. For an industrialist building a Dam in
development because, we can take hydro-
electricity from it.

2.What are the three major different types of

Dams?

Ans. The three major types of Dams are

 Structure
 Height
 Purpose
3.State any five names of Dams with their location.

Ans.
 Bhavani Sagar dam – Tamil Nadu.
 Tehri Dam – Uttarakhand.
 Sardar Sarovar Dam – Gujarat.
 Sardar Sarovar Dam – Gujarat.
 Hirakud dam – Odisha.

4.How many large Dams are there in the world?

Ans. There are 57,985 large Dams in the world.

5.Which type of electricity is produced with the

help of dams and mention the percentage of that
electricity throughout the world?

Ans. Hydroelectricity is produced with the help of

Dams.16% of hydroelectricity in produced.