Shihgang Dam, Gravity dam in Shigang District, Taichung, Taiwan
Shihgang Dam is a gravity dam in Shigang District, Taichung, Taiwan, built to control the Dajia River and supply water to farms downstream. The structure uses adjustable sector gates in its spillway system to regulate flow and protect surrounding land from flooding.
A section of the dam collapsed during the Jiji earthquake in 1999, prompting engineers to build an embankment cofferdam as an emergency solution. The damaged area was kept as a memorial to recall the effects of seismic activity in the region.
The damaged section of the dam remains preserved as a memorial, representing the impact of natural forces on infrastructure in Taiwan.
Visitors can explore the site during daytime hours to see the preserved damaged section and the working gate mechanisms. Access along the crest allows for views over the water catchment area and the farmland downstream.
The damaged segment has been left partly in its fractured state, exposing the raw masonry and bent steel reinforcement. This deliberate choice documents the power of natural forces and serves as an open lesson about infrastructure and seismic risk.
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