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Warragamba Dam

Imagine a giant wall holding back a huge lake that gives Sydney its water! Let's explore it!

Images

Warragamba Dam (January 2014)

Warragamba Dam (January 2014)

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Sydney's Warragamba Dam 1974
Burragorang Valley, after Warragamba Dam
Sydney's Warragamba Dam Spillway 1974
Burragorang Valley, before Warragamba Dam
Aerial view of Warragamba Dam, Silverdale and Wallacia
Warragamba Dam
Sydney's Warragamba Dam Spillway 1974
Sydney's Warragamba Dam Pedestrian Suspension Bridge 1974
Warragamba Dam Construction
Sydney's Warragamba Dam Pedestrian Suspension Bridge 1974
Sydney's Warragamba Dam Flying Fox 1974

Key Facts

Location
Warragamba, New South Wales, Australia.
Year Built
Construction finished in 1960.
Lake Capacity
Can hold 2,065 gigalitres of water.
Fun Fact
The lake created by the dam is as big as 7,500 football fields!

Why Did We Build This Giant Wall?

A long, long time ago, during a big war, Sydney was running out of water! It was a serious problem. So, clever engineers decided to build a super-strong dam to catch lots of rain and store it. This dam is called Warragamba Dam, and it holds back a giant lake called Lake Burragorang. It's like a giant bathtub for Sydney's water!

How Big is This Water Giant?

Warragamba Dam is HUGE! It's made of concrete and is as tall as a 20-story building. The lake it creates is so big, it covers an area as large as 7,500 football fields! All that water is super important for everyone living in Sydney, helping them drink, wash, and play.

When Was This Amazing Dam Built?

Building Warragamba Dam was a massive project that took many years. Construction started in 1948 and finished in 1960. That's longer than you've been alive! Imagine all the hard work and planning that went into making this giant water keeper. It was a special project to make sure Sydney always had enough water.

Water, Water Everywhere... Sometimes!

Sometimes, Warragamba Dam is super full, and water even spills over the top! This has happened a few times, like in 2012 and 2021. But other times, when it doesn't rain much, the lake can get quite low. It's a reminder of how important rain is for our water supply!

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