Wanjiazhai Dam, Hydroelectric gravity dam on Yellow River, Inner Mongolia and Shaanxi, China
Wanjiazhai Dam is a concrete gravity dam built across the Yellow River, spanning the border between Inner Mongolia and Shaanxi Province. The structure holds back water to generate electricity and distribute it to nearby communities through a network of pipes and channels.
Construction of the dam began in 1994 following government approval, with the first power generation starting in 1998. The project developed from plans to harness hydroelectric potential along the Yellow River.
The dam crosses between two provinces where local communities have adapted to living with the controlled water flows that now shape the landscape. People in the region rely on the steady water supply for drinking and farming throughout the year.
Access to the dam is generally restricted since it is an active industrial facility, and visitors need permission to get close to it. It is best to check local conditions beforehand and understand any safety requirements for viewing the structure.
Water is transported more than 40 kilometers through an extensive pipeline system that splits into separate channels to serve different provinces. This lengthy delivery network allows the dam to serve communities far beyond the immediate riverbank.
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