President of Pro-Vision, author of the Vinogradov.story community
“It’s hard to believe, but there are now more than 800,000 dams and reservoirs built in the world. My previous material was devoted to the most interesting and majestic buildings in Russia, and in this collection I propose to cross the border and see which hydroelectric power stations deserve attention abroad. For convenience, I will choose destinations that are relatively accessible to Russians, so that we can appreciate the full scope of human engineering without complicated transfer flights and artificial bureaucratic barriers.”
About dams inside Russia:
The scale and grandeur are impressive. Top 5 Russian Dams
Jinping-1 (China)
The Chinese love and know how to break records, and the Jinping-1 hydroelectric power station is a clear proof of this. Today, this dam, located in Sichuan province, holds the title of the highest completed arch hydroelectric power station in the world. It stretches an impressive 305 meters into the sky. For comparison: Niagara Falls at its highest point reaches 53 meters, the Eiffel Tower (excluding the recently installed antenna at the top) – 300 meters.
No wonder tourists from all over the world come to see the giant dam! The main spectacle is the discharge of water, which can be watched from a comfortable observation deck. The sight of rushing streams, capable of sweeping away an entire city, fascinates, inspires fear and once again makes one admire the ingenuity of a person who managed to subjugate the power of nature.
Photo: istockphoto.com / KE ZHUANG
Nurek Hydroelectric Power Plant (Tajikistan)
The height of the structure is almost as high as that of the Jinping-1 hydroelectric power station (300 meters), but its size is far from being the main feature of this dam. Many of us imagine a hydroelectric power station as a monolithic reinforced concrete wall blocking the passage of a mighty river. And often this is true. But then you come to the Nurek hydroelectric power station and see… At first it is even difficult to find words and describe what exactly opened up before your eyes. Imagine a freshly plowed field (with characteristic furrows from the machinery), which was somehow equipped on the side of a mountain. You look closer and realize that this is not a field, but a gigantic embankment (hence the name of the dam design – “embankment”).
The local mountains could not provide such a quantity of stones and rocks, so the materials for the construction of the embankment were brought from other regions. An average of 100 mining trucks arrived at the site of the future dam every day, and this continued for many years. Construction was completed in 1980, but even today the Nurek hydroelectric power station gives the impression of being similar to the pyramids of Egypt: innovative technology for its time and a volume of work that is hard to imagine.
Photo: istockphoto.com / Lukas Bischoff
Karun-4 hydroelectric power plant (Iran)
Iran has recently become a very popular tourist destination among Russians. I myself was completely enchanted by this country! After visiting key cities (Tehran, Yazd, Tabriz, Kashan), marveling at the brightness and pretentiousness of local architecture, enjoying the serenity of the Varzane desert and swimming in the warm waters of the sea, you can further diversify your program and see the Karun-4 Hydroelectric Power Station.
Located on the banks of the Karun River, 180 km southwest of Shehr-e-Kord in the province of Cheharmehal and Bakhtiaria, this dam attracts not only with its size (230 meters high), but also with its very interesting design. The structure was erected in a gorge between broken rocks and partly took its shape. The combination of multi-level columns looks like a Tetris player’s nightmare, but it perfectly fulfills its function, holding back a powerful river. And from the nearby platform there is an excellent view: a river with bright green water, sand-colored mountains and a cloudless blue sky together look truly beautiful and fascinating.
Photo: Anadolu via Getty Images
Inguri Hydroelectric Power Plant (Georgia)
That case when it is not entirely clear what surprises you more: the dam itself or the surrounding landscape. Let’s start with the dam. First thought: beautiful. The curved shape gives this structure, in general, lightness and elegance; for associations with the Colosseum, the only thing missing is similar lighting. It is definitely not a shame to depict this on T-shirts and postcards (which, by the way, can be purchased on the premises of the complex).
Well, the local nature is a separate conversation. The Georgians themselves call the Inguri (Jvar) reservoir, on which the dam is located, the eighth wonder of the world, and I don’t want to be condescending about it: the lake is really incredibly picturesque. After visiting the hydroelectric power station, I highly recommend taking a drive along its shore – colorful photographs and impressions are guaranteed for a lifetime.
Photo by: RIA Novosti
Toktogul Hydroelectric Power Plant (Kyrgyzstan)
Brutality in its concentrated form. Tunnels in the rock, elevators in the rock, communications in the rock – this entire dam is literally dug into the rock! Even the clearly man-made elements look as severe as possible, as they are made of grey stone and are cyclopean in size. All of this together looks more like the gates of some kind of fortress than an energy infrastructure facility. And that’s great! It’s a pity that you can’t get in with a tour now, but even the view from outside is definitely worth the time you spend on the way.
Photo by: RIA Novosti
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