Spitskop Dam

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Spitskop Dam
Official name Spitskop Dam
Country South Africa
Location North of Kimberley in the Northern Cape province.
Coordinates 28°07′24″S24°30′07″E / 28.1232°S 24.502°E / -28.1232; 24.502 Coordinates: 28°07′24″S24°30′07″E / 28.1232°S 24.502°E / -28.1232; 24.502
Purpose Irrigation
Opening date 1975 (renovated 1989)
Owner(s) Department of Water Affairs
Dam and spillways
Type of dam Earth fill dam
Impounds Harts River
Height 16 m
Length 900 m
Reservoir
Creates Spitskop Dam Reservoir
Total capacity 57 887 000 m3
Catchment area 26 922 km2
Surface area 2509 ha

Spitskop Dam is an earth-fill type dam located on the Harts River in the Northern Cape Province north of the city of Kimberley in South Africa. It was established in 1975 and rebuilt in 1989 after breaching during a flood in 1988. It has a full capacity of 57.887 million cubic meters of water and serves primarily for irrigation purposes. [1] The hazard potential of the dam has been ranked high (3).

Dam A barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface or underground streams

A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of 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, aquaculture, and navigability. Hydropower is often used in conjunction with dams to generate electricity. A dam can also be used to collect water or for storage of water which can be evenly distributed between locations. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. The earliest known dam is the Jawa Dam in Jordan, dating to 3,000 BC.

Harts River river in South Africa

The Harts River is a northern tributary of the Vaal River, which in turn is the largest tributary of the Orange River. Its source is in the North West Province, but the greater part of its basin is located in the Northern Cape Province, which it enters a few kilometers downstream from the Taung Dam.

Kimberley, Northern Cape Place in Northern Cape, South Africa

Kimberley is the capital and largest city of the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. It is located approximately 110 km east of the confluence of the Vaal and Orange Rivers. The city has considerable historical significance due to its diamond mining past and the siege during the Second Boer War. British businessmen Cecil Rhodes and Barney Barnato made their fortunes in Kimberley, and Rhodes established the De Beers diamond company in the early days of the mining town.

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References

  1. Department of Water Affairs