Top 10 Oldest Dams In The World

Dams have topped the engineering industry ever since ancient times. In terms of its history, the construction of dams has occurred since 3,000 BC. The earliest dams built were seen in Mesopotamia and the Middle East where the first dam ever built was Jawa Dam in Jordan. 

Later several other civilizations across the globe started to build their own dams. Most of the ancient dams today have ceased to exist but some of them are still operational even to this day. Here we would like to share with you the top 10 oldest dams in the world that are still functional.

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10. Almansa Dam (Spain - 16th Century)

The Almansa Dam is a gravitational rock dam built in Almansa of Albacete, Spain, and is the oldest of its kind. The works of building this dam in the Vega de Belén River might have started in 1578 and was completed 6 years later in 1584.

The structure of the dam is 25 meters in height and 90 meters wide. The main purpose of Almansa Dam was to control the amount of water flowing in this river to prevent flood as well as a water system for the people nearby.

9. Moti Talab Dam (India - 12th Century)

The Moti Talab Dam or as the locals call it Tonnur Kere is one of the oldest operational dams in the world. The word Moti Talab translates to Pearl Lake. The building started in the 12th century when the Tonnur Kere was built by Sri Asuri Ramanujacharya, a Sri Vaishnava priest.

This 1,000-year-old dam covers a mass area of 1,250 acres. Sri Asuri Ramanujacharya named the dam located in Karnataka state of Mandya district Thirumalasagara. The dam was built between mountainous rocks and the area was later attacked by Adilshahis from Bijapur and Nasir Jung, Subedar Mughal from Deccan.

It was then renamed to Moti Talab which refers to how crystal clear the water appears.

8. Sadd-e Kobar Dam (Iran - 10th Century)

The Sadd-e Kobar Dam of the Kowar River is located 28 km southeast of Qom City, Iran. This dam was built in the 10th century that happens to be a gravitational gate dam.

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The overall building of this ancient dam was made out of chalk and clay. The reason why the dam was built is to act as a water supply to the residents nearby.

7. Manoike Dam (Japan - Between 701 & 704)

The Manoike Dam is an ancient dam built in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan, and is still being used to this day. The main function of the dams is for the water system of the region. The earliest history of this 329-meter-long dam started between 701 - 704 AD during the Taiho era as it was built by Michimori Ason, owner of Sanuki province.

During a flood in 881 AD, the original dam has been destroyed, and ever since the dam was restored numerous times. As of today, the Manoike Dam has a water capacity of 14 million m³.

6. Sayamaike Dam (Japan - 7th Century)

Sayaimake Dam is a valuable dam that utilizes an outstanding Japanese water engineering technique and is one of the oldest still in use. The dam is located in Osakasayama City of Osaka, Japan.

It was built in the 7th century and this 1,400-year-old dam has its own museum to give credit and respect to the person behind this dam. The dan has a water capacity of 2.8 million m³ which flows from the Nishiyoke River.

The restoration works for this dam was contributed by several Japanese icons which include Gyoki, a Buddhist monk from the Nara era, Chogen, a Buddhist monk from the Kamakura era and Katagiri Katsumoto, a samurai from the Edo era.

In the beginning, this dam serves the purpose of preventing floods which will destroy the crops nearby. Several improvements to the dame were then made in 1996.

5. Kaerumataike Dam, (Japan - 162)

The Kaerumataike Dam is an embankment dam in the Yodo River. This ancient dam was built in 162 AD and is located close to Nara City, Kansai. The dam is 17 meters in height and 260 meters wide.

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Yodo River received its water from Biwas Lake which is located in Shiga Prefecture. It is a water source for the people of Kansai as well as a hydroelectric dam to provide electricity to the locals.

4. Kallanai Dam (India - 2nd Century)

Kallanai Dam or Grand Anicut is the 4th oldest dam in the world that is still in use today. The dam was built by King Karikala from Chola Dynasty in the Kaveri River around the 2nd century which can be found in Tamil Nadu.

The idea behind this 2,000-year-old dam was to flow the water to the delta region for agriculture. The water flows into a mass area of 69,000 acres of land at the time and in the 19th century, the Kallanai Dam was under a phase of restructuring by the British.

Reaching the 20th century, this dam has provided water to 1 million acres of land. There were definitely debates about whether the dam itself is far much older than the respective date.

3. Cornalvo Dam (Spain - 1st & 2nd Century)

Cornalvo Dam is a gravitational dam built by the Romans during the 1st to 2nd century which is still being used today. The dam is part of the Archeological Ensemble of Mérida which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993.

The dam covers the Guadiana Valley which is 24 meters in height and 194 meters wide. After its completion, it has become the tallest dam in the world found outside of Italy. The dam serves as a water source for the city of Mérida.

2. Proserpina Dam (Spain 1st & 2nd Century)

The Proserpina Dam is a Roman gravitational dam that was built in the 1st or 2nd century in Extremadura, Spain similar to the Cornalvo Dam. Ever since it was built more than 18 centuries ago, this dam is still ongoing to this day.

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The dam was built as part of an initiative to provide clean water to the city of Emerita Augusta. The water flowing to the city was contaminated after the fall of the Roman Empire but the building still stands tall to this day.

The dam located in Guadiana Valley is 427.8 meters long. Ever since 1993, this dam has been a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

1. Lake Homs Dam (Syria - 1319 - 1305 BC)

The oldest dam in the world that is still functional today will be the Lake Homs Dam in Syria. There was a hypothesis stating that this dam was in existence during Sethi Egyptian rule around 1319 to 1304 BC. Based on the claim, this dam was then expanded during the Roman Empire in 284 - 305 AD.

Diocletian Emperor built this structure as a water system that has a capacity of 90 million m³. The Lake Homs Dam or Quatinah Barrage happens to be the biggest water reservoir in Near East.

What's interesting is that ever since it was built, the dam only has little sediments. This 2km long dam is a gravitational dam that was built out of Roman concrete core and basalt blocks. Today, the Lake Homs Dam has a water capacity of 200 million m³.

Source:

• Iluminasi

Also read: Jericho City - Oldest City In The World