Chao Phraya Dam

Chao Phraya Dam
	The Chao Phraya Dam during the dry season
Tributaries:	Mae Nam Chao Phraya
Drain:	Mae Nam Chao Phraya
	Thailand
Coordinates	15 ° 9 '33 " N , 100 ° 10' 48" E Coordinates: 15 ° 9 '33 " N , 100 ° 10' 48" E
	Data on the structure
Construction time:	1952-1957
Height of the structure crown:	14 m
Crown length:	238 m

The Chao Phraya Dam ( Thai : เขื่อน เจ้าพระยา - Khuean Chao Phraya ) is a dam in the Chai Nat Province . The Chai Nat Province is located in the northern part of the central region of Thailand .

location

The Chao Phraya Dam is located in Tambon Bang Luang, Amphoe Sapphaya , southeast of Chai Nat on Highway 311. It is easy to reach from Highway 32 Bangkok - Nakhon Sawan . The length of the dam is 238 meters, the height of the dam is 14 meters. There are 16 water gates through which the Mae Nam Chao Phraya ( Chao Phraya River ) can pour out of the reservoir. A 14 meter wide lock is intended for navigation on the Chao Phraya.

use

Economic use

The Chao Phraya Dam serves as a catch basin for the excess water during the rainy season and thus ensures a certain reduction in the annual flooding in southern central Thailand.

In the rainy season , more than 2,300 m³ of water per second can flow off the Chao Phraya Dam.

power plant

The installed capacity of the power plant with two turbines is 12 MW . The annual production is 61.75 million kWh .

leisure

The area around the dam is very popular with the local population as an excursion destination. As a result, a golf course has also been built near the dam, operated by the Thai Irrigation Department.

Bird lovers also get their money's worth: many bird species liven up the landscape during the summer months, a number of which can be studied in the nearby Chai Nat (Bird Park).

Building history

The Chao Phraya Dam was the first major dam to be completed in Thailand . Construction began at the behest of King Bhumipol Adulyadej (Rama IX) in 1952 and lasted four years. In 1957 (the year 2500 according to the Buddhist calendar ) the system was switched on.

It cost about 1.4 billion baht to build .