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Mahesh

08/06/23 06:46 AM IST

Kakhovka Dam

In News
  • Ukraine's military and Nato have accused Russia of blowing up the dam, while Russia has blamed Ukraine.
Location of dam
  • The Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant is in the city of Nova Kakhovka in the Kherson region. The city is currently under Russian occupation.
  • The dam was built in the Soviet era and is one of six that sit along the Dnipro river, which stretches from the very north of the country into the Black Sea.
  • In Kherson region, Russia occupies the left, or southern, bank while Ukraine controls the right, or northern, bank.
  • The dam holds back a huge reservoir, which locals call the Kakhovka Sea as you cannot see the other bank in certain places.
  • The dam was constructed in 1956 during the Soviet era.
  • This engineering marvel stands at an impressive height of 30 meters (98 feet) and spans a length of 3.2 kilometers (2 miles).
  • Its primary purpose was to support the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant and harness the river’s energy potential.
Significance
  • The dam forms a vast reservoir with a volume of 18 km3. It serves as a critical water source for two significant entities.
  • Firstly, the reservoir supplies water to the Crimean peninsula, a region that Russia controversially claims to have annexed in 2014.
  • Secondly, it caters to the water needs of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which is currently under Russian control. Both of these depend heavily on the stability and functionality of the dam.
Impact
  • The breach of the dam has raised concerns about the potential human impact and the risk of flooding.
  • Approximately 22,000 individuals residing in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region face the immediate threat of flooding.
  • Russian-installed officials have warned residents to be prepared for evacuation.
  • Additionally, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal expressed concern that up to 80 settlements could be at risk of flooding.
Source- Indian Express

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