Mancotal Dam

Mancotal Dam
Location of Mancotal Dam in Nicaragua
Official name Presa Mancotal
Country Nicaragua
Location Asturias, Jinotega Department
Coordinates 13°14′41.95″N 85°54′6.77″W / 13.2449861°N 85.9018806°W / 13.2449861; -85.9018806Coordinates: 13°14′41.95″N 85°54′6.77″W / 13.2449861°N 85.9018806°W / 13.2449861; -85.9018806
Purpose Power
Status Operational
Opening date 1964 (1964)
Owner(s) Empresa Nicaragüense de Electricidad (ENEL)
Dam and spillways
Type of dam Embankment
Impounds Tuma River
Height 50 m (160 ft)
Reservoir
Creates Lake Apanás
Total capacity 435,000,000 m3 (353,000 acre·ft)
Surface area 60 km2 (23 sq mi)
Power station
Name Centro América Plant
Coordinates 13°6′24.58″N 86°3′5.67″W / 13.1068278°N 86.0515750°W / 13.1068278; -86.0515750 (Centro América Plant)
Commission date 1964-1965
Turbines 2 x 25 MW Francis-type
Installed capacity 50 MW

The Mancotal Dam is an embankment dam on the Tuma River near Asturias in Jinotega Department, Nicaragua. It forms Lake Apanás, the largest reservoir in the country. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power generation and it supports the 50 MW Centro América Plant. The dam was completed and its first generator commissioned in 1964. The second generator was commissioned a year later on 18 March 1965. To generate power, water from the southwestern end of the Lake Apanás flows along a 4,000 m (13,000 ft) long channel before it enters a series of headrace pipes and a penstock. About 3.4 km (2.1 mi) to the south west the penstock meets Centro América Plant where it turns two 25 MW Francis turbines. After generating power the water is then discharged into the Viejo River.[1] To supplement levels in the Lake Apanás, the El Dorado Dam was completed in 1985 and forms Lake Asturias just downstream of the Mancotal Dam. Water from Lake Asturias can be pumped into Lake Apanás. In 1998 heavy rains from Hurricane Mitch severely damaged the Mancotal and El Dorado Dams, over-topping their spillways and nearly destroying the dams. The Virgen Dam downstream on the Viejo River was destroyed but later rebuilt.[2][3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Hydro" (in Spanish). Empresa Nicaragüense de Electricidad (ENEL). Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  2. ↑ Wood, Randall (5 October 2010). Moon Nicaragua. Avalon Travel. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  3. ↑ "Aquastat - Dams in Nicaragua". UNFAO. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
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