Rapel Dam, Hydroelectric arch dam in O'Higgins Region, Chile
Rapel Dam is an arch structure spanning 350 meters across the river with five Francis turbines inside. It generates 377 megawatts of power and holds back one of the country's largest reservoirs, containing 700 million cubic meters of water.
This engineering structure was built in 1968 and became a milestone in Chile's hydroelectric development. It proved its durability when the 1985 earthquake struck with a magnitude of 7.5, showing minimal structural damage.
The dam created Lake Rapel, which brought water sports and recreational fishing to the region. People still come here regularly to enjoy boating and relaxation on the water.
The structure sits roughly 19 kilometers north of La Estrella and is easily reached from the surrounding region. Daytime visits work best if you want to see the water surface and the dam itself from various viewpoints around the area.
The structure features a special variable-radius arch design combined with five tainter gates that can release water at rates up to 10,000 cubic meters per second. These gates are an unusual technical feature that makes water flow control remarkably precise.
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