Wriggleswade Dam

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Wriggleswade Dam
Official name Wriggleswade Dam
Country South Africa
Location Stutterheim, Eastern Cape
Coordinates 32°35′37″S27°33′11″E / 32.59361°S 27.55306°E / -32.59361; 27.55306 Coordinates: 32°35′37″S27°33′11″E / 32.59361°S 27.55306°E / -32.59361; 27.55306
Purpose Industrial and domestic
Opening date 1991
Owner(s) Department of Water Affairs
Dam and spillways
Type of dam Arch-gravity dam
Impounds Kubusi River
Height 30 metres (98 ft)
Length 780 metres (2,560 ft)
Reservoir
Creates Wriggleswade Dam Reservoir
Total capacity 93,200,000 cubic metres (3.29×109 cu ft)
Catchment area 447 km2
Surface area 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres)

Wriggleswade Dam is a combined gravity and arch type dam located on the Kubusi River near Stutterheim, Eastern Cape, South Africa. It was established in 1991 and serves primarily for municipal and industrial water supply purposes. 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.

Kubusi River river in South Africa

The Kubusi River is a river near Stutterheim in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.

Stutterheim Place in Eastern Cape, South Africa

Stutterheim is a town with a population of 46,730 in South Africa, situated in the Border region of the Eastern Cape province.

See also

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