Bloemhof Dam
Bloemhof Dam is a dam in South Africa. It was originally known as the Oppermansdrif Dam when under construction during the late 1960s. It is located at the confluence of the Vaal River and the Vet River, on the border between the provinces North West and Free State. The dam wall has a total length of 4,270 metres (14,010 ft) The reservoir is very shallow, and therefore needs a large area to mean anything for water storage. The area around the reservoir (dam), has been a protected area, but because it lies on the border between provinces, these became two separate nature reserves. On the North West Province side lies the Bloemhof Dam Nature Reserve, on the Free State side is the Sandveld Nature Reserve.
| Bloemhof Dam | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Location of Bloemhof Dam in South Africa | |
| Official name | Bloemhof Dam |
| Country | South Africa |
| Location | border Northwest and Free State |
| Coordinates | 27°40′15″S 25°37′40″E |
| Opening date | 1970 |
| Owner(s) | Department of Water Affairs |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Concrete gravity with earth flanks |
| Impounds | Vaal River |
| Height | 33 m |
| Length | 4270 m |
| Spillway type | Crest gate (controlled) |
| Spillway capacity | 14 300 m³/s (max) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Bloemhof Dam Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 1 269 000 000 m³ |
| Surface area | 2226 ha |
The town of Bloemhof lies on the north west side of the Vaal River.
The dam was commissioned in 1970, has a capacity of 1,269,000,000 cubic metres (4.48×1010 cu ft),[1] and has an area of 223 square kilometres (86 sq mi);[1] the wall is 33 metres (108 ft) high. It is fed with the outflow from the Vaal Dam (located upstream in Gauteng) as well as rain collected in the Vaal, Vet, Vals and Sand River catchment areas.
Fishing
Bloemhof Dam is a world-renowned fishing destination for carp and catfish. It is one of the most frequently visited dams for angling events.[2]
See also
- List of reservoirs and dams in South Africa
- List of rivers of South Africa
References
- "BLOEMHOF DAM". Department of Water Affairs. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
- Barkhuizen, L.M. (2016). "A qualitative and quantitative analysis of historic commercial fisheries in the Free State Province in South Africa". Retrieved 21 January 2021.