Warragamba Dam, Heritage-listed concrete dam in New South Wales, Australia
The dam sits about 65 kilometers west of Sydney and forms Lake Burragorang, which spreads across the Burragorang Valley. The concrete structure crosses the Warragamba River gorge and reaches a height of roughly 142 meters (466 feet) at its tallest point.
Planning for this dam began in the late 1930s, but construction only started after the Second World War. Flooding of the valley began in 1960 and took about six years until the reservoir reached full capacity.
The name Warragamba comes from the Gundungurra language and refers to waterfalls in this area. Visitors today follow an interpretive trail along the dam wall that uses display panels to explain the connection between the old landscape and modern engineering.
The site opens on weekends and public holidays for visitors who want to explore the area around the dam wall. A visitor center provides basic information and restrooms, while marked walking paths lead to viewing platforms overlooking the lake.
During construction a temporary village with houses, shops and schools was built for workers and later completely dismantled after completion. Some of the original settlement structures and transport routes were later submerged beneath the rising lake waters.
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