Enguri hydroelectric power plant, Hydroelectric power station in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Georgia.
The Enguri hydroelectric power plant is an arch dam built across the Enguri River in western Georgia that creates a large reservoir in the surrounding mountains. The facility harnesses water flow through its multiple turbines to generate electricity from the river's natural descent.
Work on this power plant began in 1961 during the Soviet era, with electricity generation starting in 1978 and construction concluding years later. The project represented a major engineering effort of that period and transformed the region's energy production.
The dam received recognition as a Cultural Monument of National Importance in 2015 and joined the European Route of Industrial Heritage in 2022.
The facility sits in the mountains of western Georgia and can be accessed from the nearest settlements, though the hilly terrain makes the journey noticeable. Visitors should prepare for changing weather conditions typical of mountain regions and bring suitable clothing.
A striking feature is the network of more than 400 tunnels and channels carved into the mountain to direct water toward the turbines. The longest of these passages cuts deep into the rock and demonstrates the engineering complexity required to make this project work.
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