Lake Marathon
Encyclopedia
Lake Marathon or the Marathon Reservoir (Greek: Λίμνη Μαραθώνος [Limni Marathónos] or Λίμνη Μαραθώνα [Limni Marathóna]) is a water supply reservoir
formed from the construction of Marathon Dam
at the junction of Charadros
and Varnavas Torrents near the town of Marathon
, Greece
. It was the primary water supply for Athens
from 1931, when it became operational, until 1959. In 1959 water from Yliki Lake became available, and water from Mornos Reservoir became available in 1981.
The area of the lake at the height of the spillway of the dam is 2.45 square kilometres, the maximum depth is 54 m , the lake concetrates water from a drainage basin
of 118 square kilometres with an average runoff of 14,400,000.0 m³ per year in an average rainfall of 580 mm per year , the average inbound volume is 12,000,000.0 m³ per year and the maximum reservoir capacity is 41,000,000.0 m³ (effective volume 34,000,000.0 m³).
The dam has a maximum height (from foundation to crest) of 54 m, a maximum width of 28 m at the base and 4.5 m at the crest. Its length is 285 m. The crest is 227 m above sea level, the toe is 173 m above sea level, and the spilway is 223 m above sea level. The spillway disgorges 520 m³/s. The dam is costructed from concrete and is a gravity dam. It is unique worldwide because its external cladding of white pentelikon marble
is the same marble used in construction of the Parthenon
and the other buildings in the Acropolis
. The dam was constructed by the American firm ULEN (which had, in a BOT
type contract, the ownership of the water supply company of Athens until 1974). It was constructed to meet the increased water demand caused by the rapid population increase in the Athens area following the huge influx of refugees from Asia Minor
during and after the end of Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922). The construction lasted from 1926 to 1929.
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...
formed from the construction of Marathon Dam
Marathon Dam
The Marathon Dam is a gravity dam on the Charadros River, near its junction with the Varnavas Stream, west of Marathon and northeast of Athens in Greece. The dam created Lake Marathon for the primary purpose of municipal water supply. Constructed between 1926 and 1929, it was the sole supplier of...
at the junction of Charadros
Charadros
The Charadros is a river in the northwest central part of the Achaea prefecture.-Geography:The Charadros river begins in the Panachaiko mountains, it passes through the municipalities of Rio and Patras. The river flows in a rocky setting, through a valley with mountains and a forest...
and Varnavas Torrents near the town of Marathon
Marathon, Greece
Marathon is a town in Greece, the site of the battle of Marathon in 490 BC, in which the heavily outnumbered Athenian army defeated the Persians. The tumulus or burial mound for the 192 Athenian dead that was erected near the battlefield remains a feature of the coastal plain...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. It was the primary water supply for Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
from 1931, when it became operational, until 1959. In 1959 water from Yliki Lake became available, and water from Mornos Reservoir became available in 1981.
The area of the lake at the height of the spillway of the dam is 2.45 square kilometres, the maximum depth is 54 m , the lake concetrates water from a drainage basin
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
of 118 square kilometres with an average runoff of 14,400,000.0 m³ per year in an average rainfall of 580 mm per year , the average inbound volume is 12,000,000.0 m³ per year and the maximum reservoir capacity is 41,000,000.0 m³ (effective volume 34,000,000.0 m³).
The dam has a maximum height (from foundation to crest) of 54 m, a maximum width of 28 m at the base and 4.5 m at the crest. Its length is 285 m. The crest is 227 m above sea level, the toe is 173 m above sea level, and the spilway is 223 m above sea level. The spillway disgorges 520 m³/s. The dam is costructed from concrete and is a gravity dam. It is unique worldwide because its external cladding of white pentelikon marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
is the same marble used in construction of the Parthenon
Parthenon
The Parthenon is a temple on the Athenian Acropolis, Greece, dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their virgin patron. Its construction began in 447 BC when the Athenian Empire was at the height of its power. It was completed in 438 BC, although...
and the other buildings in the Acropolis
Acropolis
Acropolis means "high city" in Greek, literally city on the extremity and is usually translated into English as Citadel . For purposes of defense, early people naturally chose elevated ground to build a new settlement, frequently a hill with precipitous sides...
. The dam was constructed by the American firm ULEN (which had, in a BOT
Build-Operate-Transfer
Build-own-operate-transfer or build-operate-transfer is a form of project financing, wherein a private entity receives a concession from the private or public sector to finance, design, construct, and operate a facility stated in the concession contract...
type contract, the ownership of the water supply company of Athens until 1974). It was constructed to meet the increased water demand caused by the rapid population increase in the Athens area following the huge influx of refugees from Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
during and after the end of Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922). The construction lasted from 1926 to 1929.