Vajont
The Story of the Vajont Dam
The Vajont Dam was designed between 1926 and 1959 by engineer Carlo Semenza and built between 1957 and 1960. Its construction was intended to serve as a seasonal water regulation reservoir for the waters of several rivers and streams in the area. Once built, it became the tallest dam in the world, standing at 261.60 meters high.
The "Communicating Vessels" System
The Vajont Basin was the heart of a "communicating vessels" system. This hydroelectric power system maximized all available water and jumps from the Piave River and its tributaries, through the dams of Pieve di Cadore, Pontesei, and Valle di Cadore. The waters were channeled through kilometers of reinforced concrete pipes and spectacular tube bridges and used to generate energy through small hydroelectric power plants.
The Vajont Disaster
The story of the Vajont Dam is linked to the disaster of October 9, 1963. That day, a landslide caused a gigantic wave that swept across the entire valley, causing the death of over 2,000 people. The Vajont disaster was one of the worst environmental disasters in Italian history and led to the closure of the dam for the production of electricity.
The Present of the Vajont Dam
Today, more than 60 years after its construction, the Vajont Dam is still the eighth tallest dam in the world, and the reservoir is kept almost completely empty for safety reasons. Its story is a warning about the need to fully consider human-environment interactions and to implement sustainable energy policies.
In summary, the Vajont Dam was built in the 1950s to harness the hydroelectric energy from the rivers and streams in the area. Although it was the tallest dam in the world at the time of its construction, a disaster in 1963 caused the death of over 2,000 people and led to its closure for electricity production. Today, the Vajont Dam is still one of the tallest dams in the world, but the reservoir is kept empty for safety reasons. Its story reminds us of the importance of carefully considering human-environment interactions and adopting sustainable energy policies.
