Contra Dam | |
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Contra Dam | |
Official name | Contra Dam |
Location | Ticino, Switzerland |
Coordinates | 46°11′48″N 8°50′52″E / 46.19667°N 8.84778°E |
Construction began | 1961 |
Opening date | 1965 |
Owner(s) | Verzasca SA |
Dam and spillways | |
Type of dam | Arch dam |
Impounds | Verzasca River |
Height | 220 m (720 ft) |
Length | 380 m (1,250 ft) |
Width (crest) | 7 m (23 ft) |
Width (base) | 25 m (82 ft) |
Dam volume | 660,000 m3 (23,000,000 cu ft) |
Spillway type | Service, uncontrolled overflow |
Spillway capacity | 2,150 m3/s (76,000 cu ft/s) |
Reservoir | |
Creates | Lago di Vogorno |
Total capacity | 105,000,000 m3 (85,000 acre⋅ft) |
Catchment area | 230 km2 (89 sq mi) |
Surface area | 160 ha (400 acres)[1] |
Power Station | |
Hydraulic head | 277 m (909 ft) (Max) |
Turbines | 3 x 35 MW Francis-type |
Installed capacity | 105 MW |
Annual generation | 234 GWh |
The Contra Dam, commonly known as the Verzasca Dam and the Locarno Dam,[2] is an arch dam on the Verzasca River in the Val Verzasca of Ticino, Switzerland. The dam creates Lago di Vogorno 2 km (1.2 mi) upstream of Lake Maggiore and supports the 105 MW Verzasca hydroelectric power station. It was constructed between 1961 and 1965 and starting shortly after its reservoir was filled, a series of earthquakes related to its water load occurred until 1971. The dam is owned and operated by Verzasca SA and is the fourth tallest in Switzerland.[3]
The dam became a popular bungee jumping venue after a James Bond stuntman jumped off it in the opening scene of the 1995 film GoldenEye; a stunt voted as the best movie stunt of all time in a 2002 Sky Movies poll.[4]