Benmore Dam, Hydroelectric power station in Canterbury Region, New Zealand.
Benmore is New Zealand's largest earth-fill dam, an 823-metre crest of clay core and gravel shoulders holding back Lake Benmore. Its concrete section carries prestressed penstocks down to a powerhouse with six 90 MW Francis turbines. The dam stands 100 metres high and contains 28 million tonnes of fill.
Construction started in 1958 and was officially opened in 1965 by Prime Minister Keith Holyoake after spending 62 million dollars. The project represented a major step in expanding New Zealand's power generation capacity during the postwar period.
The dam led to the creation of Otematata town, which served as a home for construction workers and their families during the building phase. The settlement reflects a chapter of postwar industrial development in the region.
The dam lies about 8 km up the valley from Otematata, the small holiday town that supports it, between Lake Aviemore to the southeast and Lake Pukaki to the north. The main AC switching station stands on the east bank of the tailrace, the HVDC converter stations on the west side. Access is by regional roads; the crest is 10.6 m wide.
The structure serves as the southern terminus of the HVDC cable linking New Zealand's North and South Islands, connecting the electrical grids of both landmasses. This subsea connection plays a crucial role in distributing power across the country.
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