| Rapel Dam | |
| Name Official: | Presa Rapel |
| Location Map: | Chile |
| Coordinates: | -34.0414°N -71.5886°W |
| Country: | Chile |
| Location: | La Estrella |
| Opening: | 1968 |
| Owner: | Endesa |
| Dam Type: | Arch, variable radius |
| Dam Height: | 1120NaN0 |
| Dam Length: | 3500NaN0 |
| Dam Width Crest: | 5.50NaN0 |
| Dam Width Base: | 190NaN0[1] |
| Dam Crosses: | Rapel River |
| Spillway Capacity: | 100000NaN0 |
| Res Name: | Lake Rapel |
| Res Capacity Total: | 7000000000NaN0 |
| Res Capacity Active: | 5300000000NaN0 |
| Plant Hydraulic Head: | 760NaN0 (net)[2] |
| Plant Turbines: | 5 x 75.4 MW Francis-type |
| Plant Capacity: | 377 MW |
The Rapel Dam is an arch dam on the Rapel River about 190NaN0 north of La Estrella in the Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins Region, Chile. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power generation and it supports a 377 MW power station. The dam was completed in 1968 and is owned by Endesa. It creates the largest reservoir in Chile with a capacity of 7000000000NaN0.[3] The dam withstood the 7.5 Mw 1985 Rapel Lake earthquake with only minor damage. It was centered 450NaN0 from the dam.[1]
The Rapel Dam is a 112m (367feet) tall and 350m (1,150feet) long variable-radius arch-type. It is wide at its crest and wide at its base. The dam's spillway is controlled by five tainter gates and has a discharge capacity of . The dam's reservoir, Lake Rapel has a 700000000m2 capacity of which 530e6m3 is active capacity.
The power station, located at the dam's base, contains five Francis turbine-generators and is afforded of net hydraulic head.[1] [2]