Victoria is the
largest hydroelectric power plant in Sri Lanka. Victoria Dam is the
tallest dam in Sri Lanka. This dam is located at a distance of about 6 km from Theldeniya town.
Initial proposals for
this Victoria Reservoir were proposed in 1964 under the
accelerated Mahaweli Development Program. The project was started in 1978 under the Government of JR Jayawardene and was vested in
the public by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on April 12, 1985.
The main objective of
creating this reservoir is to provide water for electricity generation and
agricultural purposes. Electricity generation was generated by the energy
of a water stream emanating from the dam. The Victoria Reservoir was built
at the confluence of the Hulu River and the Mahaweli River. The old
Theldeniya town was completely inundated at that time and those who lost their
land were given lands in the Mahaweli Zone and the upper hills. Some of
the ruins of the old Teldeniya town can still be seen when the reservoir is
running out of water. The new Teldeniya town was later built just beyond
the reservoir.
TheVictoria is the
largest hydroelectric power plant in Sri Lanka. Victoria Dam is the
tallest dam in Sri Lanka. This dam is located at a distance of about 6 km from Theldeniya town.
Initial proposals for
this Victoria Reservoir were proposed in 1964 under the
accelerated Mahaweli Development Program. The project was started in 1978 under the Government of JR Jayawardene and was vested in
the public by British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on April 12, 1985.
The main objective of
creating this reservoir is to provide water for electricity generation and
agricultural purposes. Electricity generation was generated by the energy
of a water stream emanating from the dam. The Victoria Reservoir was built
at the confluence of the Hulu River and the Mahaweli River. The old
Theldeniya town was completely inundated at that time and those who lost their
land were given lands in the Mahaweli Zone and the upper hills. Some of
the ruins of the old Teldeniya town can still be seen when the reservoir is
running out of water. The new Teldeniya town was later built just beyond
the reservoir.
The Victoria Falls was
about 10 meters high at the site of the Victoria Dam,
which was later submerged in the reservoir. Victoria Dam is 122 meters (400 ft) in height and 520 meters in length. Its base width is 25 meters. There are many rooms inside the dam and eight
sluice gates to remove most of the water from the reservoir. The spillway
of the Victoria Reservoir is spectacular and is the perfect time to visit the
Victoria Dam. However, this spill is only a few years old, so many
tourists visit Victoria Dam at this time.
Victoria Reservoir was
built with the support of the British Government. The UK has agreed to
support the project because of its promise to give the dam the name
'Victoria'. The then President JR Jayawardene, Gamini Dissanayake and
Lalith Athulathmudali were committed to this project. The total capacity
of the reservoir is 72000000 cubic meters. It has
an operating capacity of 6840000 cubic meters. The
reservoir will add 210 MW of power to the national
grid. The reservoir is spread over an area of 22.7
sq. Km
There are two separate
sluice gates at the bottom of the Victoria Dam to remove the sediment that
accumulates at the bottom of the reservoir. The water that passes through
the dam is 5646 meters through a tunnel, divided into
three parts and operated by three turbines. The hydroelectric power
station is just a few kilometers from the dam. The water from the dam to
the lower Mahaweli river is empty and the water near the bottom hydroelectric
power plant suddenly rises above the ground. The river is then fed back
into the river and from there it runs to feed the Randenigala reservoir.
If you are visiting
this dam, the best time to visit is the reservoir of Victoria. But
consider that it is a rare event that only lasts for a few years. But you
can only visit Victoria Dam at other times. When you visit this reservoir,
the best route to choose is the Kandy Mahiyangana road. After traveling
about 30 kilometers along the road, you will find the
Moragahamula Junction, which is about 10 kilometers
away from where the concrete giant is located. There are several places to
see the dam and it is compulsory that you get special permission to walk on and
off the dam.
You can also visit the
dam via Adhikaragama on Kandy-Badulla road. The dam can be accessed about 5 km from there. Further along the Badulla Kandy road,
you will see the Victoria Power Plant, the Randenigala Reservoir and the
Randenigala Dam. Also, on the Kandy-Mahiyanganaya road, you can see the
old Teldeniya town when it becomes dry.Victoria Falls was
about 10 meters high at the site of the Victoria Dam,
which was later submerged in the reservoir. Victoria Dam is 122 meters (400 ft) in height and 520 meters in length. Its base width is 25 meters. There are many rooms inside the dam and eight
sluice gates to remove most of the water from the reservoir. The spillway
of the Victoria Reservoir is spectacular and is the perfect time to visit the
Victoria Dam. However, this spill is only a few years old, so many
tourists visit Victoria Dam at this time.
Victoria Reservoir was
built with the support of the British Government. The UK has agreed to
support the project because of its promise to give the dam the name
'Victoria'. The then President JR Jayawardene, Gamini Dissanayake and
Lalith Athulathmudali were committed to this project. The total capacity
of the reservoir is 72000000 cubic meters. It has
an operating capacity of 6840000 cubic meters. The
reservoir will add 210 MW of power to the national
grid. The reservoir is spread over an area of 22.7
sq. Km
There are two separate
sluice gates at the bottom of the Victoria Dam to remove the sediment that
accumulates at the bottom of the reservoir. The water that passes through
the dam is 5646 meters through a tunnel, divided into
three parts and operated by three turbines. The hydroelectric power
station is just a few kilometers from the dam. The water from the dam to
the lower Mahaweli river is empty and the water near the bottom hydroelectric
power plant suddenly rises above the ground. The river is then fed back
into the river and from there it runs to feed the Randenigala reservoir.
If you are visiting
this dam, the best time to visit is the reservoir of Victoria. But
consider that it is a rare event that only lasts for a few years. But you
can only visit Victoria Dam at other times. When you visit this reservoir,
the best route to choose is the Kandy Mahiyangana road. After traveling
about 30 kilometers along the road, you will find the
Moragahamula Junction, which is about 10 kilometers
away from where the concrete giant is located. There are several places to
see the dam and it is compulsory that you get special permission to walk on and
off the dam
You can also visit the
dam via Adhikaragama on Kandy-Badulla road. The dam can be accessed about 5 km from there. Further along the Badulla Kandy road,
you will see the Victoria Power Plant, the Randenigala Reservoir and the
Randenigala Dam. Also, on the Kandy-Mahiyanganaya road, you can see the
old Teldeniya town when it becomes dry.
