Florentino Ameghino Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Florentino Ameghino Dam |
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 Location of Florentino Ameghino Dam in Argentina
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| Official name | Dique Florentino Ameghino |
| Country | Argentina |
| Location | Chubut Province |
| Coordinates | 43°26′43.57″S 65°56′33.28″W / 43.4454361°S 65.9425778°W |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1943 |
| Opening date | 1963 |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Chubut River |
| Height | 113 m (371 ft) |
| Length | 225 m (738 ft) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Florentino Ameghino Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 65,000,000 m3 (53,000 acre⋅ft) |
| Power station | |
| Turbines | 2 x 23,4 MW |
| Installed capacity | 46.8 MW (62,800 hp) |
The Florentino Ameghino Dam is a huge wall built across the Chubut River in Argentina. It's located in a region called Patagonia, about 140 kilometers (87 miles) west of the city of Trelew. This dam is super important because it helps stop floods in the towns along the lower Chubut River valley. It also helps make electricity!
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About the Florentino Ameghino Dam
The Florentino Ameghino Dam is a special type of dam called a gravity dam. This means it's so heavy and strong that its own weight holds it in place against the force of the water. It stands 113 meters (371 feet) tall and stretches 225 meters (738 feet) long.
The dam holds back the water of the Chubut River, which starts from melting snow high up in the Andes mountains. This creates a large lake behind the dam, known as the Florentino Ameghino Reservoir.
Building the Dam
Work on the Florentino Ameghino Dam began a long time ago, in 1943. An engineer named Antonio Pronsato led the project. It took many years to build this massive structure. The dam was finally finished and opened in 1963.
How the Dam Works
The dam has two special machines inside called Francis turbines. Each of these turbines can produce 23.4 megawatts of power. When water from the reservoir flows through these turbines, it makes them spin very fast. This spinning motion then generates electricity.
The dam's power plant can produce a total of 46.8 megawatts of electricity. Today, a company called Hidroeléctrica Ameghino operates and manages the dam.
The Town and the Name
Right next to the dam, there's a small town called Villa Dique Florentino Ameghino. About 200 people live there.
The dam and the town are named after a famous Argentine scientist, Florentino Ameghino. He was a naturalist, which means he studied nature. He was also a paleontologist (someone who studies fossils), an anthropologist (someone who studies human societies), and a zoologist (someone who studies animals).
See also
In Spanish: Dique Florentino Ameghino para niños
