Darbandikhan Dam

Darbandikhan Dam
Upstream side of the dam and spillway
Location of Darbandikhan Dam in Iraq
Country	Iraq Kurdistan Region
Location	Darbandikhan (65 km southeast of Silêmani, Kurdistan Region)
Coordinates	35°06′46″N 45°42′23″E / 35.11278°N 45.70639°E / 35.11278; 45.70639
Status	Operational
Construction began	1956
Opening date	1961
Owner(s)	Ministry of Water Resources
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Embankment; rock-fill, central clay core
Impounds	Sirwan River
Height	128 m (420 ft)
Length	445 m (1,460 ft)
Elevation at crest	495 m (1,624 ft)
Width (crest)	17 m (56 ft)
Dam volume	7,100,000 m3 (9,286,449 cu yd)
Spillway type	Controlled chute
Spillway capacity	11,400 m3/s (402,587 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Total capacity	3,000,000,000 m3 (2,432,140 acre⋅ft)
Active capacity	2,500,000,000 m3 (2,026,783 acre⋅ft)
Inactive capacity	500,000,000 m3 (405,357 acre⋅ft)
Catchment area	17,850 km2 (6,892 sq mi)
Surface area	113 km2 (44 sq mi)
Normal elevation	485 m (1,591 ft)
Power Station
Commission date	1990
Hydraulic head	80 m (262 ft) (rated)
Turbines	3 x 83 MW Francis-type
Installed capacity	249 MW

The Darbandikhan Dam (Kurdish: Bendava Derbendîxanê ,بەنداوی دەربەندیخان^[1][2]) is a multi-purpose embankment dam on the Diyala River in northern Sulaymaniyah Governorate, Iraq. It was constructed between 1956 and 1961. The purpose of the dam is irrigation, flood control, hydroelectric power production and recreation. Due to poor construction and neglect, the dam and its 249 MW power station have undergone several repairs over the years. A rehabilitation of the power station began in 2007 and was completed in 2013.