桂山壩, Gueishan Dam
Guishan is a concrete gravity dam about 24 meters high and 125 meters long that controls the flow of the Nanshi Creek for power generation and water supply. It has ten arc-shaped spillway gates and a fish ladder to allow fish to move freely between river sections.
Construction of the dam began in 1939 and was completed in 1941, marking an early milestone in Taiwan's hydroelectric development. The structure was modernized in 1951 into a concrete gravity dam with additional gates to better manage floods and improve water storage capacity.
The dam's name reflects the local area where it stands. It serves as a place where residents walk along the water's edge in the morning and witness how the region manages its most vital resource through infrastructure built into the landscape.
The dam is best explored on foot, with a wide walkway at the top offering easy strolls and viewpoints providing views of the structure and reservoir. The surrounding area is well-kept and open, making it comfortable to move around while observing the facilities.
The arc-shaped spillway gates operate under strict protocols, lifting only a maximum of one meter at a time in gradual increments to prevent sudden water surges downstream. This careful control system reflects decades of learning how to safely manage water flow in this region.
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