Oi Dam
Encyclopedia
The is a dam located between the cities of Ena
and Nakatsugawa
in Gifu Prefecture
, Japan. It was built to produce electricity for the surrounding area. The Agi River
flows through the damn.
Built in 1924, the Ōi Dam was the first dam built anywhere on the Kiso River
system. It is also the first hydroelectric dam built in Japan. At 53.4 m (175.2 ft) tall, it is the largest gravity dam in Japan after the Taishakugawa Dam
in Hiroshima Prefecture
. In 1983, the New Ōi Dam (新大井ダム Shin-Ōi Damu) was built just downstream. Combined, they produce 80,000 kW of power.
created by the dam was named Ena Gorge
. More than 10 km (6 mi), the gorge is lined by rocky walls on both sides. Along with the lake created by the Maruyama Dam
downstream, the area has been designated the Hida-Kisogawa Quasi-National Park
.
Ena, Gifu
is a city located in the Tōnō region of Gifu Prefecture, Japan. As of July 2011, the city has an estimated population of 53,378. The total area is 504.19 km²....
and Nakatsugawa
Nakatsugawa, Gifu
is a city located in the Tōnō region of Gifu Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on April 1, 1952.-History:During Japan's Edo period, Nakatsugawa was a post town, known as Nakatsugawa-juku, one of the 69 Stations of the Nakasendō along the Nakasendō. The travel route ran from the Nihonbashi in...
in Gifu Prefecture
Gifu Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Chūbu region of central Japan. Its capital is the city of Gifu.Located in the center of Japan, it has long played an important part as the crossroads of Japan, connecting the east to the west through such routes as the Nakasendō...
, Japan. It was built to produce electricity for the surrounding area. The Agi River
Agi River
The is a river in Japan which flows through Gifu Prefecture. It is part of the Kiso River system.-Geography:The river originates from Mount Yaki on the border of Nakatsugawa and Ena and flows west...
flows through the damn.
Built in 1924, the Ōi Dam was the first dam built anywhere on the Kiso River
Kiso River
The is a river in Japan roughly 193 km long, flowing through the prefectures of Nagano, Gifu, Aichi, and Mie before emptying into Ise Bay a short distance away from the city of Nagoya. It is the main river of the Kiso Three Rivers and forms a major part of the Nōbi Plain...
system. It is also the first hydroelectric dam built in Japan. At 53.4 m (175.2 ft) tall, it is the largest gravity dam in Japan after the Taishakugawa Dam
Taishakugawa Dam
Taishakugawa Dam is a dam in Shōbara, in the Hiroshima Prefecture of Japan....
in Hiroshima Prefecture
Hiroshima Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Hiroshima.- History :The area around Hiroshima was formerly divided into Bingo Province and Aki Province. This location has been a center of trade and culture since the beginning of Japan's recorded...
. In 1983, the New Ōi Dam (新大井ダム Shin-Ōi Damu) was built just downstream. Combined, they produce 80,000 kW of power.
History
The upper portions of the Kiso River have a strong flow in terms of speed and volume, making it an ideal location for hydroelectric dams. Interest in hydroelectric dams in Japan grew greatly in 1911 when a hydroelectric law was passed. Given the technologies of the time, though, building a dam along the Kiso River was too difficult because floods often occurred.Surrounding area
The reservoirReservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
created by the dam was named Ena Gorge
Ena Gorge
is a river valley located at the mid reaches of the Kiso River, which runs through the cities of Ena and Nakatsugawa in Gifu Prefecture, Japan.Ena Gorge was so named by Shiga Shigetaka, a geographer of that time who praised the harmony of the mysteriously shaped rocks, which appeared to be...
. More than 10 km (6 mi), the gorge is lined by rocky walls on both sides. Along with the lake created by the Maruyama Dam
Maruyama Dam
The is a dam on the border of Mitake and Yaotsu in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. It was built on the upper reaches of the Kiso River system. It is a gravity dam that is tall. It was built after World War II as part of a large, nationwide dam building project....
downstream, the area has been designated the Hida-Kisogawa Quasi-National Park
Hida-Kisogawa Quasi-National Park
The is a quasi-national park in Japan. The park covers the Hida River from Gero to Minokamo in Gifu Prefecture; it also covers the middle reaches of the Kiso River from Mizunami, Gifu Prefecture, to Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture. It was designated a quasi-national park in March 1964.-Area...
.