14 Apr Gariep Dam (Formerly Hendrik Vervoed Dam) – OFS
Gariep Dam (formerly Hendrik Vervoed Dam) is on the Orange River between the Eastern Cape and Freestate Province.
The dam was built between 1965 and 1971 with the purpose of providing irrigation water downstream of the dam and to to Eastern Cape , via the Fish River Tunnel into the Fish River.
The dam has a wall of 88m high, 914m long and with a width of 13m. The dam, when full covers an area of 370 square Kilometers with a capacity of 5340000 mega-liters. The dam is the largest in South Africa. It also has two 90 MW hydro electric turbines. Upstream, close to Bethulie is the longest rail/road bridge in SA, the DH Steyn Bridge.
The beauty of the surrounding area has encouraged the development of resorts in the vicinity of the wall.