Aras Dam
Encyclopedia
The Aras Dam is an embankment dam
on the Aras River along the border of Iran
and Azerbaijan
. It is located downstream of Poldasht
in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran and Nakhchivan City in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Azerbaijan. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power production and water supply.
and Iran in Tehran
to construct the Aras Dam on the Aras River. This was done at a time when Azerbaijan was under Soviet control. Construction on the dam began in 1963 and it was completed in 1970. The dam was officially inaugurated on 28 June 1971 by Iranian deputy primer minister Safi Asfia and the Deputy Chairman of the Soviet Council of Ministers Mikhail Yefremov.
A supplementary protocol to the border agreement of 1954 between Iran and the Soviet Union was signed on 7 May 1970 in Moscow
to redelimit the border along the Aras reservoir.
created by the Aras Dam and shared by Nakhchivan exclave of Azerbaijan Republic and Iran
.
At a normal water elevation of 777.5 metres (2,550.9 ft) above sea level, the dam withholds a reservoir
of 1.35 cubic kilometre with a surface area of 145 square kilometres (56 sq mi).
There are a total of four hydro-electric stations in Azerbaijan and Iran (two on each side) with four turbines. The discharge capacity of one spillway of a station is 66.5 m3/s.
Since opening, the reservoir has provided irrigation water for 400000 hectares (988,420.7 acre) of arable land
in Azerbaijan and Iran, including about 60000 hectares (148,263.1 acre) in Dasht-e Moghan area.
. The discharge capacity of one spillway of a station is 66.5 m3/s. The total installed capacity is 44 MW.
Embankment dam
An embankment dam is a massive artificial water barrier. It is typically created by the emplacement and compaction of a complex semi-plastic mound of various compositions of soil, sand, clay and/or rock. It has a semi-permanent waterproof natural covering for its surface, and a dense, waterproof...
on the Aras River along the border of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
and Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
. It is located downstream of Poldasht
Poldasht
Poldasht is a city in and the capital of Poldasht County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 8,584, in 2,205 families. The city lies on the western bank of the Aras River....
in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran and Nakhchivan City in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Azerbaijan. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power production and water supply.
History
On 11 August 1957, a protocol was signed between the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and Iran in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
to construct the Aras Dam on the Aras River. This was done at a time when Azerbaijan was under Soviet control. Construction on the dam began in 1963 and it was completed in 1970. The dam was officially inaugurated on 28 June 1971 by Iranian deputy primer minister Safi Asfia and the Deputy Chairman of the Soviet Council of Ministers Mikhail Yefremov.
A supplementary protocol to the border agreement of 1954 between Iran and the Soviet Union was signed on 7 May 1970 in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
to redelimit the border along the Aras reservoir.
Dam
The Aras Dam is 40 metres (131.2 ft) tall from its foundation and 34 metres (111.5 ft) tall from the riverbed. It is an embankment type with sand fill and a clay core. It is 1026 metres (3,366.1 ft) long and 8 metres (26.2 ft) wide on its crest.Reservoir
The Araz reservoir , also known as Araz Water Junction is a large reservoirReservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
created by the Aras Dam and shared by Nakhchivan exclave of Azerbaijan Republic and Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
.
At a normal water elevation of 777.5 metres (2,550.9 ft) above sea level, the dam withholds a reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
of 1.35 cubic kilometre with a surface area of 145 square kilometres (56 sq mi).
There are a total of four hydro-electric stations in Azerbaijan and Iran (two on each side) with four turbines. The discharge capacity of one spillway of a station is 66.5 m3/s.
Since opening, the reservoir has provided irrigation water for 400000 hectares (988,420.7 acre) of arable land
Arable land
In geography and agriculture, arable land is land that can be used for growing crops. It includes all land under temporary crops , temporary meadows for mowing or pasture, land under market and kitchen gardens and land temporarily fallow...
in Azerbaijan and Iran, including about 60000 hectares (148,263.1 acre) in Dasht-e Moghan area.
Power station
The dam's power station contains four turbine-generators for a capacity of 11 MW each. Two of the generators are on the Iranian side and the other two on the Azerbaijani side along with the dam's spillwaySpillway
A spillway is a structure used to provide the controlled release of flows from a dam or levee into a downstream area, typically being the river that was dammed. In the UK they may be known as overflow channels. Spillways release floods so that the water does not overtop and damage or even destroy...
. The discharge capacity of one spillway of a station is 66.5 m3/s. The total installed capacity is 44 MW.