Los Molinos Dam

Los Molinos Dam
File:LosMolinosDamLower.jpg Downstream face of the dam
Location of Los Molinos Dam in Argentina
Country	Argentina
Location	Córdoba
Coordinates
Purpose	Power, water supply, flood control
Status	Operational
Construction began	1948
Opening date	1953 (1953)
Owner(s)	Empresa Provincial de Energia de Cordoba (EPEC)
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Arch
Impounds	Los Molinos River
Height	60 m (200 ft)
Length	240 m (790 ft)
Reservoir
Total capacity	399×10^6 m3 (323,000 acre·ft)
Catchment area	980 km2 (380 sq mi)
Surface area	24.5 km2 (9.5 sq mi)
Power station
Name	Los Molinos I
Coordinates
Commission date	1956
Turbines	4 x 13 MW (17,000 hp) Francis-type
Installed capacity	52 MW (70,000 hp)

The Los Molinos Dam (in Spanish, Dique Los Molinos) is a dam over the course of the Los Molinos River in the center-west of the province of Córdoba, Argentina, about 769 metres (2,523 ft) above mean sea level.

The dam gathers the flow of a 980 square kilometres (380 sq mi) catchment basin. Its wall is 60 metres (200 ft) high and 240 metres (790 ft)long. The reservoir has a surface area of 24.5 square kilometres (9.5 sq mi) and a volume of 399 million cubic metres (323,000 acre·ft); the maximum depth of the water is 57 metres (187 ft).

The dam was built between 1948 and 1953, and its primary goals are the regulation of the flow of the river and the production of hydroelectricity. The power station generates 52 megawatts (70,000 hp) for the Center Region of the Argentine Interconnection System.

The reservoir is bordered by Provincial Route 5. It is employed for fishing (silverside), swimming, water skiing and sailing.

References

• CordobaGlobal.com.ar
• Embalse Dique Los Molinos at Champaqui.com.ar.