| Samarra Dam | |
| Location Map: | Iraq |
| Coordinates: | 34.1958°N 43.8506°W |
| Dam Elevation Crest: | Approx. 650NaN0 |
| Dam Crosses: | Tigris River |
| Location: | Directly east of Samarra, Salah ad Din Governorate, Iraq |
| Operator: | Ministry of Water Resources |
| Spillway Capacity: | Samarra Barrage: 70000NaN0 Tharthar Regulator: 90000NaN0 |
| Opening: | 1956 |
| Res Capacity Total: | 1500000000NaN0 |
| Plant Type: | Run-of-the-river |
| Plant Commission: | 1972 |
| Plant Turbines: | 3 x 28 MW Kaplan-type |
| Plant Capacity: | 84 MW |
The Samarra Barrage (Arabic: سد سامَرّاء) is a multi-purpose barrage on the Tigris River adjacent (west) of Samarra and north of Baghdad, Iraq. The main purpose of the dam is to divert floodwater in the Tigris River to Lake Tharthar through the Tharthar depression along with irrigation and an 84 MW hydro-electricity station. It also serves to produce hydroelectric power and flood control – although the later has become less critical with the construction of the Mosul Dam upstream and several other large dams in Turkey.
It was completed in 1956 by the German company Züblin. Designs were completed by the British firm Voganlei and Coode. The power station was commissioned in 1972. The Samarra Barrage portion of the structure has 17 gates capable of passing 70000NaN0 of water to the Tigris while the Tharthar regulator can divert up to 90000NaN0 into a canal with 36 gates. The reservoir's design capacity is 1500000000NaN0 but much of that is filled with sediment.[1] [2]
The intent was to use water stored from the Samarra Barrage and the Ramadi Barrage for irrigation. However, evaporation on Lakes Habbaniyah and Tharthar lead to reduces storage and high salinity; conditions unsuitable for irrigation.[3]