Bhumibol Dam, Hydroelectric power station and arch dam in Sam Ngao, Thailand
Bhumibol Dam is a hydroelectric power station and arch dam on the Ping River in Sam Ngao. Its eight turbines generate electricity for large parts of northern Thailand, while the reservoir behind it stores water for dry months and enables irrigation across multiple provinces.
Construction started in 1958 and ended in 1964, after engineers and workers poured concrete into the valley for years. The facility was one of the first major dam projects in Thailand and shaped the way the country manages water and energy.
The dam carries the name of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who supported farming and energy development in northern Thailand. Fishermen and farmers along the Ping River use the controlled water levels for their daily work and see the structure as part of their home region.
The facility sits in the mountains west of Tak and is reached by a country road winding through forested hills. Visitors can enter the grounds on most days and take in views of the reservoir and surrounding valleys from the viewpoint.
The arch design allows the dam to carry enormous water pressure by directing the force into the rock walls on both sides. The facility also houses a pumped-storage system that pumps water back into the upper reservoir when electricity demand is low.
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