Sefid-Rud Dam, Concrete buttress dam in Kalashtar Rural District, Iran
The Sefid-Rud Dam is a concrete structure spanning the Sefid River, built as a buttress dam to hold back water and generate electricity. Its design uses a series of weight-bearing concrete walls that work together to resist the force of water behind it.
Construction began in 1956 and was completed in 1962 as part of a national effort to modernize infrastructure and control water resources. The project helped establish Iran's capacity to undertake large-scale engineering works.
The dam shapes how water is managed across the region and influences daily life for people who depend on its reservoir for farming and drinking water. It represents a turning point when communities could control seasonal flooding that once affected their lands.
Spring and fall offer the most comfortable conditions for visiting, with moderate weather and clear views across the water and surrounding landscape. Wear sturdy shoes since paths around the structure can be uneven and may have loose gravel or rocky sections.
A powerful earthquake in 1990 caused significant damage that required extensive repairs the following year. This event demonstrated how the structure had to withstand major natural forces to continue protecting the region.
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