The Wadi Qattara Dam, also referred to as Gattara or Al-Qattarah, is a clay-fill embankment dam located on Wadi Al-Qattara, 33 km (21 mi) east of Benghazi in Libya. Together with a secondary dam located 10 km (6 mi) downstream at 31°59′43″N 20°20′04″E / 31.99528°N 20.33444°E and seven drop structures, the scheme was constructed after floods damaged the Benghazi area in 1938 and 1954. They were also constructed for irrigation water supply. Construction of the dams began in 1968 and was completed in 1971.[3][4] However, a flood in 1979 severely damaged the main dam and destroyed the secondary dam downstream.[5] The main dam was rehabilitated and the secondary dam was replaced with a rock-fill dam between 2000 and 2004 at a cost of US$30 million. The main dam was heightened 7 m (23 ft) and its total discharge capacity was increased to 240 m3/s (8,476 cu ft/s). Both dams were designed by Coyne et Bellier.[6]
| Wadi Qattara Dam | |
|---|---|
  Location of Wadi Qattara Dam in Libya | |
| Country | Libya |
| Location | Benghazi |
| Coordinates | 32°01′36″N 20°24′18″E / 32.02667°N 20.40500°E |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1968 |
| Opening date | 1971 |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Wadi Qattara |
| Height | 55 m (180 ft)[1] |
| Length | 365 m (1,198 ft) |
| Spillway capacity | Spillway: 92 m3/s (3,249 cu ft/s) Outlet works: 148 m3/s (5,227 cu ft/s) Total: 240 m3/s (8,476 cu ft/s) |
| Reservoir | |
| Total capacity | 135,000,000 m3 (109,446 acre⋅ft)[2] |
| Catchment area | 1,224 km2 (473 sq mi) |
| Surface area | 18 km2 (7 sq mi) |
References edit
- ^ "African Dam Factsheet". UN FAO. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
- ^ "Water profile of Libya". Encyclopedia of Earth. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
- ^ "Wadi Gattara". Hidrotehnika-Hidroenergetika a.d. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
- ^ "The Economic Development of Libya". World Bank. 1960. Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
- ^ "Water resources and water transfer projects". Coyne-et-Bellier. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
- ^ Jalut, Q. H.; R. E. Suleiman. "Rehabilitation of Wadi Al-Qattarah Main Dam" (PDF). International Conference on Construction and Building Technology. Retrieved 27 August 2011.