King Fahad Dam | |
Location Map: | Saudi Arabia |
Location Map Size: | بط و وز |
Coordinates: | 19.6963°N 42.4874°W |
Country: | Saudi Arabia |
Location: | Bisha, 'Asir Region |
Purpose: | Flood control, municipal water, irrigation, groundwater recharge |
Construction Began: | 1986 |
Owner: | Ministry of Water and Electricity |
Dam Type: | Gravity |
Dam Crosses: | Wadi Bisha |
Dam Length: | 507m (1,663feet) |
Dam Height Foundation: | 103m (338feet) |
Dam Height Thalweg: | 68m (223feet) |
Dam Width Crest: | 80m (260feet) |
Dam Width Base: | 8m (26feet) |
Spillway Type: | Overflow |
Spillway Capacity: | 5338m3/s |
Res Capacity Total: | 325000000m2 |
Res Catchment: | 7600km2 |
Res Max Length: | 18km (11miles) |
The King Fahad Dam, previously known as Bisha Dam, is a gravity dam on Wadi Bisha about 35km (22miles) south of Bisha in the 'Asir Region of southwestern Saudi Arabia. The dam has many purposes, such as serving flood control, supplying water to nearby localities, irrigation and groundwater recharge, along with fish supply. A water treatment plant was built in conjunction with the dam and it can supply up to 40000m2 of water to the city of Bisha a day. The dam was constructed between 1986 and 1997. It is named after King Fahad and is managed the Ministry of Water and Electricity. At 103m (338feet) in height, it was the tallest dam in the country until the 106m (348feet) Baysh Dam was completed in 2009. King Fahad's reservoir still has the largest storage capacity, at 325000000m2.[1]