Vanderkloof Dam

Vanderkloof Dam
Official name	Vanderkloof Dam
Location	Northern Cape, South Africa
Coordinates	29°59′32″S 24°43′54″E / 29.992222°S 24.731667°E / -29.992222; 24.731667
Construction began	1973
Opening date	1977
Dam and spillways
Height	108 metres (354 ft)[2]
Length	765 metres (2,510 ft)[1]
Impounds	Orange River
Reservoir
Creates	Vanderkloof Dam Reservoir
Capacity	3,200,000,000 cubic metres (1.1×1011 cu ft)[1]
Surface area	133.402 square kilometres (51.507 sq mi)
Vanderkloof Dam

The Vanderkloof Dam (originally the P.K. Le Roux Dam) is situated approximately 130km down stream from Gariep Dam and is fed by the Orange River, South Africa's largest river. Vanderkloof Dam is the second largest dam in South Africa, boasting the highest dam wall in the country at 108m. The dam was commissioned in 1977, has a capacity of 3,200,000,000 cubic metres (1.1×10¹¹ cu ft), a surface area of 133,402 square kilometres (51,507 sq mi), and the dam wall is 108 metres (354 ft) high. However the Orange is not the only river flowing into this giant dam: there are the Berg River, 2 unnamed streams come in fron the direction of Reebokrand, the Knapsak River, Paaiskloofspruit, Orange River, Seekoei River, Kattegatspruit and the Hondeblaf River, in a clockwise direction.

External links

• Vanderkloof Dam

See also

• Orange River
• List of reservoirs and dams in South Africa
• List of rivers of South Africa

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "VANDERKLOOF DAM". Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (South Africa). http://www.dwaf.gov.za/orange/Mid_Orange/vanderkl.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-27. 
2. ^ "Vanderkloof Dam". http://www.vanderkloofdam.co.za/. Retrieved 2009-05-27.