Al Wahda Dam (Morocco)

Al Wahda Dam, formerly known as M'Jaara Dam, is an embankment dam on the Ouergha River near M´Jaara in Taounate Province, Morocco. It was constructed for flood control, irrigation, water supply and hydroelectric power production. It is the second largest dam in Africa and the largest in Morocco. It was described by Land Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone (LOICZ) as "the second most important dam in Africa after the High Aswan dam."BackgroundIn 1988, the Board of Water and Climate considered the dam and eventually it was recommended for development. Construction began in 1991, the dam began to create its reservoir in 1996 and was inaugurated on March 20, 1997 by King Hassan II. A total of 14000000m3 of material were excavated during construction.SpecificationsThe dam is an earthen embankment type made of of material and of concrete. It is tall at its highest point and the main portion of the dam is long. Directly to the north and adjacent to the spillway is a saddle dam that is long and high. The dam's spillway, in its center is controlled by six floodgates and has a discharge capacity in excess of.Power plantThe power plant, at the dam's toe and adjacent to the spillway is supplied with water via a diameter and long pipe which in turn transfers the water into three penstocks. Each of which is in diameter in length. This scheme provides of hydraulic head and up to to the Francis turbines. Each turbine powers an generator for a total installed capacity of.