Hirakud Dam - World's Longest Man-made Dam

Hirakud Dam is built across the Mahanadi River, about 15 km from Sambalpur in the state of Orissa in India. Built in 1957, the dam is one of the world's longest earthen dam. Hirakud Dam is the longest man-made dam in the world, about 16 mi (26 km) in length. It is one of the first major multipurpose river valley project started after India's independence. The name of the dam is mostly mis-pronounced in North India as Hirakund which is actually Hirakud.

Hirakud Dam Project is a multipurpose scheme intended for flood control, irrigation and power generation. The foundation stone of Hirakud Dam was laid by Sir Howthrone Lewis, the then Governor of Odisha on 15^th March 1946. The project report was submitted to Government in June 1947. The first batch of concrete was laid by Pandit Jawaharalal Neheru on 12^th April 1948. The project was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru on 13^th, January 1957. Power generation along with supply for irrigation started progressively from 1956 and full potential was achieved by 1966. The total cost of the project was Rs. 100.02 crores in 1957.

Hirakud dam is a composite structure of  Earth, Concrete and Masonry.  The main dam having an overall length of 4.8 K.m. spans between hills Lamdungri on left hand Chandili Dunguri on the right. The Dam is flanked by 21 K.Ms. long earthen dykes both on left and right sites to close the low suddles beyond the abutment hills.  It has the distinction of being the longest dam in the world, being 25.8 K.Ms. long with dam and dykes taken together.  It has also the rare distinct of forming the biggest artificial lake in Asia with reservoir spread of 743 sq Kms at full reservoir level. 

The dam helps control floods in the Mahanadi delta and irrigates 75,000 square kilometres of land. Hydroelectricity is also generated.  

                                                       I don’t claim the information to be my own. The information is compiled from different sources