Limon Dam
Encyclopedia
The Limon Dam, part of the Olmos Transandino Project, is an under construction multi-purpose concrete-face rock-fill embankment dam
on the Huancabamba River
in northwestern Peru
, located to the south of Guabal. When completed, the dam
will help produce 4,000 GWh of electricity per year and transfer water from the Cajamarca
region west to Lambayeque
, near Olmos
for the reclamation
and irrigation of 150,000 hectares of farmland
.
tunnel to the Olmos Valley. The Limon Dam will be an 43 metres (141 ft) high, 320 metres (1,050 ft) long embankment dam and when full, it will withhold a reservoir of 44000000 cubic metre. In addition, the dam will house a hydroelectricity
power plant with a 600 MW capacity. The greatest feature and engineering challenge of the project was the deep trans-Andean tunnel as it connects the Atlantic side of the Andes (Amazon Basin
) with the Pacific side.
drilling the tunnel with a tunnel boring machine
. The tunnel was complete in late 2008 and a contract for the hydro power station
is set to be issued in February 2010. The project will cost $190 million in total and should begin transferring water in 2010.
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 Huancabamba River
Huancabamba river
The Huancabamba River has its origin in the confluence of the rivers Huaylamayo and Chontabamba in Peru. The upper course is formed by the basins of these rivers. The middle course is between Huancabamba and the Pozuzo and its lower course between Pozuzo and the confluence with the river Palcazú....
in northwestern Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, located to the south of Guabal. When completed, the dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
will help produce 4,000 GWh of electricity per year and transfer water from the Cajamarca
Cajamarca
Cajamarca may refer to:Colombia*Cajamarca, Tolima a town and municipality in Tolima DepartmentPeru* Cajamarca, city in Peru.* Cajamarca District, district in the Cajamarca province.* Cajamarca Province, province in the Cajamarca region....
region west to Lambayeque
Lambayeque Region
Lambayeque is a region in northwestern Peru known for its rich Moche and Chimú historical past. The region's name originates from the ancient pre-Inca civilization of the Lambayeque.-Etymology:...
, near Olmos
Olmos District
Olmos District is one of twelve districts of the province Lambayeque in Peru.The Limon Dam is part of the Olmos Transandino Project which is intended to irrigate the dry region east of the Andes by damming the flood-prone Huancabamba River.-References:...
for the reclamation
Land reclamation
Land reclamation, usually known as reclamation, is the process to create new land from sea or riverbeds. The land reclaimed is known as reclamation ground or landfill.- Habitation :...
and irrigation of 150,000 hectares of farmland
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...
.
Project characteristics
The water transfer accomplished by the Limon Dam on the Huancabamba River which will divert up to 2000000000 cubic metre of water a year through a 12.5 miles (20 km) trans-AndeanAndes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
tunnel to the Olmos Valley. The Limon Dam will be an 43 metres (141 ft) high, 320 metres (1,050 ft) long embankment dam and when full, it will withhold a reservoir of 44000000 cubic metre. In addition, the dam will house a hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
power plant with a 600 MW capacity. The greatest feature and engineering challenge of the project was the deep trans-Andean tunnel as it connects the Atlantic side of the Andes (Amazon Basin
Amazon River
The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
) with the Pacific side.
History & construction
Designs for the project date back to the 1980s. Construction on the project began in 2006 with Brazil's OdebrechtOdebrecht
Odebrecht S.A. is a Brazilian conglomerate in the fields of engineering, construction, chemicals and petrochemicals. The company was founded in 1944 in Salvador da Bahia by Norberto Odebrecht, and is now present in South America, Central America, North America, the Caribbean, Africa, Europe and the...
drilling the tunnel with a tunnel boring machine
Tunnel boring machine
A tunnel boring machine also known as a "mole", is a machine used to excavate tunnels with a circular cross section through a variety of soil and rock strata. They can bore through anything from hard rock to sand. Tunnel diameters can range from a metre to almost 16 metres to date...
. The tunnel was complete in late 2008 and a contract for the hydro power station
Power station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
is set to be issued in February 2010. The project will cost $190 million in total and should begin transferring water in 2010.
Popular culture
The project was profiled in the May 18, 2009 episode of Build it Bigger.See also
- OlmosOlmos DistrictOlmos District is one of twelve districts of the province Lambayeque in Peru.The Limon Dam is part of the Olmos Transandino Project which is intended to irrigate the dry region east of the Andes by damming the flood-prone Huancabamba River.-References:...
- Huancabamba RiverHuancabamba riverThe Huancabamba River has its origin in the confluence of the rivers Huaylamayo and Chontabamba in Peru. The upper course is formed by the basins of these rivers. The middle course is between Huancabamba and the Pozuzo and its lower course between Pozuzo and the confluence with the river Palcazú....
- Lambayeque RegionLambayeque RegionLambayeque is a region in northwestern Peru known for its rich Moche and Chimú historical past. The region's name originates from the ancient pre-Inca civilization of the Lambayeque.-Etymology:...
- CajamarcaCajamarcaCajamarca may refer to:Colombia*Cajamarca, Tolima a town and municipality in Tolima DepartmentPeru* Cajamarca, city in Peru.* Cajamarca District, district in the Cajamarca province.* Cajamarca Province, province in the Cajamarca region....
