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Hyden Humps Dam facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Hyden Humps Dam is an important water storage area in Western Australia. It is located at the southern base of a large rock formation called The Humps. This dam is about 17 kilometers (10.5 miles) northeast of the town of Hyden. It's also quite close to the famous Wave Rock, about 15 kilometers (9 miles) north of it.

How the Dam Gets Water

Hyden Humps Dam, October 2020
The Hyden Humps Dam, seen from The Humps in 2020

This dam collects its water from rainfall. When it rains, water naturally flows down from the large rock surfaces of The Humps mountain. This rainwater runoff is then guided into the dam, helping to fill it up. It's a clever way to collect water in a dry area.

What the Dam is Used For

Today, the Hyden Humps Dam is mainly used as a backup water supply. It's not the primary source of water for the area anymore. This change happened after a big project called the Great Southern Scheme was finished.

The Great Southern Scheme

The Great Southern Scheme is a system that brings water from another dam, the Harris River Dam, to the Wheatbelt region. This water travels through long pipes. Because of this scheme, many towns in the Wheatbelt now get their main water supply from Harris River Dam. The Hyden Humps Dam is still important, though, as it can provide water if needed.

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