Veterans Memorial Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Veterans Memorial Dam |
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Location of Veterans Memorial Dam in Virginia
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Official name | Veterans Memorial (Main) Dam (LOWA Dam No. 1) |
Country | United States |
Location | Lake of the Woods, Orange County, Virginia |
Coordinates | 38°20′59″N 77°45′17″W / 38.34972°N 77.75472°W |
Status | Operational |
Opening date | 1968 |
Owner(s) | Lake of the Woods Association, Inc. |
Dam and spillways | |
Type of dam | Embankment, earth-fill |
Impounds | Flat Run |
Height | 60 ft (18 m) |
Length | 1,450 ft (442 m) |
Elevation at crest | 325.5 ft (99 m) |
Spillway capacity | 4,000 cu ft/s (113 m3/s) |
Reservoir | |
Creates | Lake of the Woods |
Total capacity | 13,800 acre⋅ft (17,022,049 m3) |
Catchment area | 7.12 sq mi (18 km2) |
Surface area | 639 acres (259 ha) |
The Veterans Memorial Dam, also known as the Lake of the Woods Main Dam, is a large wall built across a small river called Flat Run in Virginia, USA. It is about 15 miles west of Fredericksburg, Virginia. This dam was built to create a big lake for people to enjoy.
What is the Veterans Memorial Dam?
The Veterans Memorial Dam is a special type of dam called an earth-fill embankment dam. This means it's like a very big hill made of packed earth and rocks. It's carefully shaped to hold back water and create a lake. The dam was finished in 1968.
Why Was the Dam Built?
The main reason for building this dam was for fun and recreation. It created the beautiful Lake of the Woods where people can go swimming, fishing, and boating. The dam helps keep the lake at the right level for all these activities.
The Lake of the Woods Community
Around the lake is a special community also called Lake of the Woods. Many homes are built here, and it's a popular place for people to live and visit. The dam is very important to this community because it makes the lake possible.
The dam is owned by the Lake of the Woods Association, Inc. This group helps manage the dam and the lake, making sure everything works well for everyone.