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 Contra Dam

Where When How Why

 WHERE

Contra dam is constructed on the Verzasca river in the Ticino in

Switzerland.
Contra dam is 4th tallest dam in Switzerland and it is located in
southern parts of alps mountains.
The Verzasca river is a 30 Km long mountain river originating at
Pizzo Barone and flowing in to Lake Maggiore.
The water flowing is crystal clear, and the depth is visible up to
15mts.
 Ticino (State) - Average precipitation

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year

Prec.
65 50 80 155 195 165 155 160 185 140 125 80 1560
(mm)

Prec.
2.6 2 3.1 6.1 7.7 6.5 6.1 6.3 7.3 5.5 4.9 3.1 61.4
(in)

Days 5 5 6 11 13 10 8 10 8 9 8 6 98
 The valley is formed by the Verzasca river ,situated between the
Leventina and Maggia mountains.
The water flowing is crystal clear, and the depth is visible up to
15mts.
The valley is formed by the Verzasca river ,situated between the
Leventina and Maggia mountains.
It is interesting that there are no living organisms in this river.
Scientists suggest that absence of flora and fauna is explained the
increased acidity of the water.
 The Roman bridge nearer to Contra dam Is enhancing the beauty of
this place.
The Roman bridge nearer to Contra dam Is enhancing the beauty of
this place.
The dam is constructed 2 Km upstream of Lake Maggiore.
Lake Maggiore is a large lake located on the south side of the Alps
mountains.
It is the second largest lake in Italy and the largest in
southern Switzerland.
 Switzerland is the 11th Richest Country in the World based on
GDP per capita.
Switzerland is a landlocked country.
The Swiss territory is divided into 4 major types of land use.
36.9% area of land is used for farming.
30.8% area of country is covered with forests & wood lands.
3. 6.8% area of land covered with houses or buildings.
4. 25.5% area of the country is mountains, lakes or rivers.
 In altogether lakes and reservoirs contain 50% of the stored water,
glaciers 28%, ground water 20% and rivers 2%.
Verzasca River is also a favorite destination for divers.
Latitude and Longitude of Contra Dam N 46o 11’ 48” and
E 8o 50’ 52”.
Switzerland never participated in world war after 1815.
Red cross and World trade organization established in Geneva.
It is birth place for Red cross society.
 Foundation of Swiss confederacy was first celebrated on Aug-1,1891,
National day of Switzerland is Aug-1 on wards 1896.
Switzerland motto is “One for all, all for one”.
Roger Federer has won a record 20 Grand Slam singles titles,
making him the most successful men's tennis player ever.
Boundaries of
Switzerland
 WHEN

Dam construction was started in 1961.

In August 1964, the reservoir began to fill.

in September 1965, the Reservoir was complete.

 HOW
On May 6, 1960, Verzasca SA was formed to construct the dam as
the center-piece of the Verzasca Hydroelectric Complex.
Contra dam is at lowest elevation compared to other Swiss dams.
The dam was designed by Dr. Giovanni Lombardi.
Dam was supervised by Lombardi & Gellaro Ltd.
Dam construction was started in 1961.
Warmer weather allowed construction to be carried out year-round.
 Coffer dams were constructed, one of which redirected the river
through a diversion tunnel with a 200m3/s capacity.
As the river flows much higher than the tunnel capacity.
Excavation of the right side of dam had to be expanded due to
unforeseen weathered rock and designs were altered with in 15 days.
Concrete pouring and placement occurred for 18 months, of which
the maximum poured in a day was 3100 m3 and 55,000 m3 in a
month.
 A ground curtain was placed around and below the foundation to
prevent leakages and strengthening of foundation.
August 1964, the reservoir began to fill.
in September 1965, the Reservoir was complete.
 Modified Spillway:
Dam mainly consists of two spill ways.
Spill way consists of 12 fixed crest weirs each are 12.0 m wide located
on both abutments.
Spill way capacities are 1000m3/s & 1600 m3/s (Modified spill way).
Each weir is provided with a spillway chute ending with flip
buckets.
The original design of spillway for a peak inflow in the reservoir
1000 m3/s was considered from the statistical analysis of Hydrological
information at the time of construction.
 Subsequent flood events noticed during the operation of dam
observed to be exceeding the design flood.
It was felt necessary to re-examination of basin hydrology and re-
design of spillway capacity.
The study was conducted by Swiss Federal Institution of Technology
in Laussanne in this regard.
In 1978, severe floods occurred in the southern parts of the Alps.
It was found that the flood discharge were significantly larger than
the design flood.
 Authorities want to modify the spill way capacity of the dam.
The new upstream parapet on the spillway bridge was constructed
for increased free board against overflowing.
It was decided to increase the unit discharge by heightening the
maximum water level or by lowering the fixed crest weirs
For that demolition of the 50 cm thick reinforced concrete slab on
upstream part of the bridge crossing the spillway chutes was carried
out , resulting in a reduction of road width from 8.6 to 5.1 m.
FEATURES OF CONTRA DAM:

Owner : Verzasca SA
Location of Dam : Ticino, Switzerland
Impounds : Verzasca River
Year of Construction : 1961 to 1965
Design and Supervision : Lombardi & Gellaro Ltd.
Co-Ordinates : N 46o 11’ 48” and E 8o 50’ 52”.
Dam and Spillway:
Type of dam : Double curvature Arch dam
Height : 220 m (720 ft)
Length : 380 m (1,250 ft) Crest Width : 7 m
Base Width : 25 m
Dam volume : 6,60,000 m3
Spillway Type : Service and Uncontrolled over flow.
No. of Spillways : 2 No.s
No. of crest weirs : Each 6 No.s
Spill way capacity : 1300 m3/s.
Energy Dissipater : Single chute to Flip type

Reservoir:
Creates : Lago de Vogorno

Capacity : 3.71 TMC

Catchment Area : 230 Km2.

Surface area : 160 Ha

Spillway capacity : 1300 mc / s

Power Station:
Hydraulic head : 277 m

Installed Capacity : 105 MW

Annual Generation : 234 GWh

Turbines : 3 x 35 Francis turbines

Schematic Diagram of Power House