Carraízo Dam, Gravity dam in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico.
Carraízo Dam is a concrete gravity structure that crosses the Río Grande de Loíza river in Trujillo Alto, just inland from San Juan. The dam creates a large reservoir that supplies water to the metropolitan area and features multiple gates that manage water flow downstream.
Construction began in 1950 and was completed in 1953 as part of post-war development efforts for Puerto Rico. The project was built to address growing water needs in the San Juan metropolitan region and has remained a key source since its completion.
The reservoir formed by the dam provides water resources to local communities while integrating into the landscape of Puerto Rico's northern region.
The dam and reservoir can be viewed from several vantage points along nearby roads, though direct access to the structure itself is usually restricted. Visiting in the morning or late afternoon provides the best light for observing the water and landscape from public viewpoints.
The dam structure maintains a height of 44 meters with a substantial base width of 30 meters, containing 26,800,000 cubic meters of water volume.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
