| Canyon Dam | |
| Location Map: | Sri Lanka |
| Location Map Size: | 270px |
| Coordinates: | 6.8717°N 80.5261°W |
| Country: | Sri Lanka |
| Location: | Laxapana Falls, Central Province |
| Purpose: | P |
| Status: | O |
| Opening: | February 1974 |
| Owner: | Ceylon Electricity Board |
| Dam Type: | AG |
| Dam Crosses: | Maskeliya Oya |
| Res Name: | Canyon Reservoir |
| Res Max Length: | 450m (1,480feet) |
| Res Max Width: | 350m (1,150feet) |
| Plant Name: | New Laxapana Power Station |
| Plant Coordinates: | 6.9181°N 80.4919°W |
| Plant Type: | C |
The Canyon Dam is a large arch-gravity dam built across the Maskeliya Oya, 4.51NaN1 upstream of the iconic Laxapana Falls, in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. The associated power station plays a major role in the national power grid, due to its significant output.[1] The dam is surrounded by steel structures of the substation.
The dam creates the relatively small Canyon Reservoir, measuring at 450m (1,480feet) and 350m (1,150feet) in its longest length and width, respectively. The reservoir's primary source of water is the Maskeliya Oya, with additional water discharged from the Canyon HPower Station, located at the same site.
Water from the Canyon Reservoir is further transferred through a penstock to the New Laxapana Power Station, located 7km (04miles) downstream, at, 1.51NaN1 northwest of Kiriwan Eliya. The power station consists of two hydroelectric generators of each. Both generators were commissioned in .[2]