| Chirkey Dam | |
| Name Official: | Chirkey GES |
| Location Map: | Russia Dagestan#Russia |
| Coordinates: | 42.9769°N 46.8711°W |
| Country: | Russia |
| Location: | Dagestan |
| Status: | In use |
| Construction Began: | 1964 |
| Opening: | 1976 |
| Owner: | RusHydro |
| Dam Type: | Arch |
| Dam Length: | 3380NaN0 |
| Dam Height: | 232.50NaN0 |
| Dam Width Crest: | 60NaN0 |
| Dam Width Base: | 300NaN0 |
| Dam Volume: | 12750000NaN0 |
| Dam Crosses: | Sulak River |
| Spillway Count: | 1 |
| Spillway Type: | Service, flood discharge tunnel |
| Spillway Capacity: | 29000NaN0 |
| Res Name: | Chirkey Reservoir |
| Res Capacity Total: | 27800000000NaN0 |
| Res Catchment: | 112900NaN0 |
| Res Surface: | 42.40NaN0 |
| Res Max Depth: | 2000NaN0 |
| Plant Hydraulic Head: | 2050NaN0 (max.) |
| Plant Commission: | 1974-1976 |
| Plant Turbines: | 4 × 250 MW Francis-type |
| Plant Capacity: | 1,000 MW |
| Plant Annual Gen: | 2.47 billion kWh |
The Chirkey Dam (Chirkeisk GES) is an arch dam on the Sulak River in Dagestan, Russia. The main purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power production, and it supports a 1,000 MW power station. Construction on the dam began in 1964, the first generator was operational by 1974, the last in 1976 while the project was officially completed in 1978. It is the tallest arch dam in Russia.
The dam is a 232.50NaN0 tall and 3380NaN0 long (crest) concrete arch dam. It is 60NaN0 wide at its crest, 300NaN0 wide at its base and contains 12750000NaN0 of concrete. The dam withholds a 27800000000NaN0 reservoir of which 13200000000NaN0 is active or "useful" storage. The reservoir has a surface area of 42.40NaN0, length of 400NaN0 and maximum width of 50NaN0. Maximum depth of the reservoir is 2000NaN0 and its catchment area is 112900NaN0.[1] [2]
The dam's spillway consists of a 5090NaN0 long non-pressure tunnel with its intake on the left bank of the dam. The spillway's capacity is 29000NaN0. The dam's outlet works, spillway and power station have a combined discharge capacity of 35500NaN0.[1]
The dam's power station contains 4 × 250 MW Francis turbine-generators for a total installed capacity of 1,000 MW. Each generator is supplied with water by a penstock, all four of which intake on the upstream side of the dam's face and run down its surface toward the power station at the dam's base.[1]