4 Dams to Explore in Odisha

the longest earthen dam of the world stands in its lone majesty across the great river Mahanadi, which drains an area of 1,33,090 Sq.Kms., more than twice the area of Shrilanka. The bulk of Hirakud dam contains earth, concrete and masonry materials sufficient to make a road 8 metres wide and pave it from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and Amritsar to Dibrugarh in Assam. From horizon to horizon the resorvoir forms the largest artificial lake in Asia with an area of 746 Sq.Kms.

This is agravity dam situated near Jaypore town in Koraput district. The dam impounds Kolab river which is a tributary of Godavari river. The majestic Kolab Reservoir generating Hydro Electric Power is situated here. There is also a beautiful garden and a small park surrounds the dam.

Mandira Dam is located near Kansbahal in Sundergarh district. Construction of the dam began after 1957. The dam displaced 2400 families and only 843 were resettled. The reservoir offers boating facilities for tourists and the nearest railway station is located in Kansbahal on the Howrah-Mumbai main line of South Eastern Railway. Rourkela is the closest junction station.

This dam is constructed across the Brahmani river. The reservoir formed by the dam is the second largest reservoir in Odisha, with 37,840 hectares at full level and 28,000 hectares at mean level.