Fukuzato Underground Dam, Underground dam in Miyakojima, Japan
Fukuzato Underground Dam is a water storage system hidden beneath the limestone surface of Miyakojima Island. It uses the island's natural rock formations and underground valleys to supply water for farming and local needs.
The system was built between 1988 and 1998 after severe droughts in the 1970s revealed the island's water scarcity problem. This construction solved a major water supply issue for the island's farming communities.
The Miyakojima Underground Dam Museum, established in 2013, presents the engineering methods and geological features that enable this water management system.
The best way to understand this system is to visit the on-site museum, which explains how it works. Visitors should know that the water remains completely underground and is accessed through a network of wells across the island.
The system works like a natural filter, separating saltwater from fresh water and protecting this precious resource from sea infiltration. This technique uses the island's geological structure in a clever way without needing artificial barriers.
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