Gardiner Dam
Encyclopedia
The Gardiner Dam on the South Saskatchewan River
in Saskatchewan
is the largest embankment dam
in Canada
and one of the largest embankment dam
s in the world. Construction on Gardiner Dam and the smaller Qu'Appelle River Dam
was started in 1959 and completed in 1967, creating Lake Diefenbaker
upstream and diverting a considerable portion of the South Saskatchewan's flow into the Qu'Appelle River
. The dam rises 64 metres (209 feet) in height, is almost 5 km (3.1 mi) long and has a width of 1.5 km (0.93205910497471 mi) at its base with a volume of 65,000,000 cubic meters. The dam is owned and operated by the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority
.
Danielson Provincial Park has property on both sides of the dam. On the northeast end is the RV park
and on the southwest end is a beach
, restaurant
and guided tours of the Coteau Creek Hydroelectric Station
. The park was named after Gustaf Herman Danielson
(former Saskatchewan Liberal Party
MLA).
An integrated power generating plant, SaskPower
's Coteau Creek Hydroelectric Station
produces a net 186 MW of electricity from three 62 MW generators. Highway 44
crosses the river atop the dam.
The dam is named for a former Premier of Saskatchewan
and longtime federal cabinet minister, James G. Gardiner.
South Saskatchewan River
The South Saskatchewan River is a major river in Canada that flows through the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan....
in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
is the largest embankment dam
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...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and one of the largest embankment dam
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...
s in the world. Construction on Gardiner Dam and the smaller Qu'Appelle River Dam
Qu'Appelle River Dam
The Qu'appelle River Dam is the smaller of two embankment dams: which created Lake Diefenbaker in Saskatchewan, Canada. The larger dam is Gardiner Dam, the biggest embankment dam in Canada and one of the biggest in the world. Construction of both dams began in the 1959 and was completed in 1967...
was started in 1959 and completed in 1967, creating Lake Diefenbaker
Lake Diefenbaker
Lake Diefenbaker is a reservoir in Southern Saskatchewan, Canada. It was formed by the construction of Gardiner Dam and the Qu'Appelle River Dam across the South Saskatchewan and Qu'Appelle Rivers respectively. Construction began in 1959 and the lake was filled in 1967. The lake is long with...
upstream and diverting a considerable portion of the South Saskatchewan's flow into the Qu'Appelle River
Qu'Appelle River
The Qu'Appelle River is a Canadian river that flows 430 km east from Lake Diefenbaker in southwestern Saskatchewan to join the Assiniboine River in Manitoba, just south of Lake of the Prairies, near the village of St. Lazare....
. The dam rises 64 metres (209 feet) in height, is almost 5 km (3.1 mi) long and has a width of 1.5 km (0.93205910497471 mi) at its base with a volume of 65,000,000 cubic meters. The dam is owned and operated by the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority
Saskatchewan Watershed Authority
The Saskatchewan Watershed Authority is an arms length organization responsible for the management of water resources to ensure safe drinking water sources and reliable water supplies for economic, environmental and social benefits in Saskatchewan, Canada...
.
Danielson Provincial Park has property on both sides of the dam. On the northeast end is the RV park
RV park
A recreational vehicle park or caravan park is a place where people with recreational vehicles can stay overnight, or longer, in alloted spaces known as "pitches"...
and on the southwest end is a beach
Beach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
, restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
and guided tours of the Coteau Creek Hydroelectric Station
Coteau Creek Hydroelectric Station
Coteau Creek Hydroelectric Station is a hydroelectric station owned by SaskPower, located near Danielson Provincial Park about 100 km south-west of Saskatoon. The station is on the South Saskatchewan River and draws water from the Gardiner Dam....
. The park was named after Gustaf Herman Danielson
Gustaf Herman Danielson
Gustaf Herman Danielson was a Canadian provincial politician. He was born in Sweden, immigrated to the United States in 1901, and then to Saskatchewan in 1904. In Saskatchewan he homesteaded south of Elbow...
(former Saskatchewan Liberal Party
Saskatchewan Liberal Party
The Saskatchewan Liberal Party is a liberal political party in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.-Early history :The party dominated Saskatchewan politics for the province's first forty years providing six of the first seven Premiers, and being in power for all but five of the years between the...
MLA).
An integrated power generating plant, SaskPower
SaskPower
Since 1929, SaskPower has been the principal supplier of electricity in Saskatchewan, Canada. Today, it serves more than 473,000 customers and manages $5.3 billion in assets...
's Coteau Creek Hydroelectric Station
Coteau Creek Hydroelectric Station
Coteau Creek Hydroelectric Station is a hydroelectric station owned by SaskPower, located near Danielson Provincial Park about 100 km south-west of Saskatoon. The station is on the South Saskatchewan River and draws water from the Gardiner Dam....
produces a net 186 MW of electricity from three 62 MW generators. Highway 44
Saskatchewan Highway 44
Highway 44 is a highway in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It runs from Highway 7 near Alsask to Highway 11 near Davidson. Highway 44 is about 331 km long....
crosses the river atop the dam.
The dam is named for a former Premier of Saskatchewan
Premier of Saskatchewan
The Premier of Saskatchewan is the first minister for the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. They are the province's head of government and de facto chief executive....
and longtime federal cabinet minister, James G. Gardiner.
See also
- Qu'Appelle River DamQu'Appelle River DamThe Qu'appelle River Dam is the smaller of two embankment dams: which created Lake Diefenbaker in Saskatchewan, Canada. The larger dam is Gardiner Dam, the biggest embankment dam in Canada and one of the biggest in the world. Construction of both dams began in the 1959 and was completed in 1967...
- Lake DiefenbakerLake DiefenbakerLake Diefenbaker is a reservoir in Southern Saskatchewan, Canada. It was formed by the construction of Gardiner Dam and the Qu'Appelle River Dam across the South Saskatchewan and Qu'Appelle Rivers respectively. Construction began in 1959 and the lake was filled in 1967. The lake is long with...
- Danielson Provincial Park