Jatigede Lake, Embankment dam in Sumedang Regency, West Java, Indonesia.
Jatigede Lake is an embankment dam on the Cimanuk River in Sumedang Regency, West Java, built to manage water flow and generate electricity. The structure supports agriculture across the region while protecting communities downstream from flooding and seasonal water shortages.
The project was first proposed in the 1960s but construction did not begin until decades later due to financial and administrative setbacks. This delayed start reflects the complexity of implementing large infrastructure in the region during different political periods.
The dam construction led to the relocation of 70,000 residents from their ancestral lands, creating substantial changes in local community structures and traditions.
Visiting the dam is most convenient from nearby towns and settlements in the regency, which offer easy road access to the site. The dry season is the best time to visit, as the water level is lower and the surrounding area is easier to explore on foot.
A tunnel over 3,000 meters long runs through the right abutment and channels water for power generation without disrupting the dam's main structure. Most visitors never notice this hidden passage, yet it plays a key role in how the facility operates daily.
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