Guri Dam

The Simón Bolívar Hydroelectric Plant, also Guri Dam (Spanish: Central Hidroeléctrica Simón Bolívar or Represa de Guri), previously known as the Raúl Leoni Hydroelectric Plant, is a concrete gravity and embankment dam in Bolívar State, Venezuela, on the Caroni River, built from 1963 to 1969. It is 7,426 metres long and 162 m high. It impounds the large Guri Reservoir (Embalse de Guri) with a surface area of 4,250 square kilometres (1,641 sq mi).

Simón Bolívar Hydroelectric Plant
Guri Dam
Location of Simón Bolívar Hydroelectric Plant
Guri Dam in Venezuela
Official nameCentral Hidroeléctrica Simón Bolívar
LocationNecuima Canyon, Bolívar
Coordinates07°45′N 63°00′W
StatusIn use
Construction began1963
Opening date1978
Owner(s)CVG Electrificación del Caroní, C.A.
Dam and spillways
Type of damGravity/embankment
ImpoundsCaroni River
Height162 m (531 ft)
Length7,426 m (24,364 ft)
Dam volumeConcrete: 6,026,000 m3 (212,806,182 cu ft)
Earth: 23,801,000 m3 (840,524,383 cu ft)
Spillway typeService, controlled crest overflow
Spillway capacity27,000 m3/s (953,496 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
CreatesGuri Reservoir
Total capacity135,000,000,000 m3 (109,446,281 acre⋅ft)
Surface area4,250 km2 (1,641 sq mi)
Power Station
TurbinesFrancis Turbines. 10 × 725 MW
4 × 180 MW
3 × 400 MW
3 × 225 MW
1 × 340 MW
Installed capacity10,235 MW
Annual generation47,000 GWh

The Guri Reservoir that supplies the dam is one of the largest on earth. The hydroelectric power station was once the largest worldwide in terms of installed capacity, replacing Grand Coulee HPP, but was surpassed by Brazil and Paraguay's Itaipu.

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