The Vaalkop Dam is a combined gravity and earth-fill type dam located in
North West Province
North West ( ; ) is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Mahikeng. The province is located to the west of the major population centre and province of Gauteng and south of Botswana.
History
North West was incorporated after the end of ...
,
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
. Its reservoir is located at the confluence of the
Elands River and the
Hex River, part of the
Crocodile
Crocodiles (family (biology), family Crocodylidae) or true crocodiles are large, semiaquatic reptiles that live throughout the tropics in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia. The term "crocodile" is sometimes used more loosely to include ...
basin. The dam was established originally in 1972 and was renovated in 2008 in order to supply water for the
platinum
Platinum is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Pt and atomic number 78. It is a density, dense, malleable, ductility, ductile, highly unreactive, precious metal, precious, silverish-white transition metal. Its name origina ...
and associated metals mining operations in the area. The dam mainly serves for irrigation purposes, municipal water supply and industrial uses. The hazard potential of the dam has been ranked high.
The Vaalkop Dam lies near
Pilanesberg
The Pilanesberg (formerly Pilandsberg) is a mountain in the North West Province, South Africa, North West Province, South Africa. The mountain is an ancient volcanic structure, circular in shape, that rises from flat surrounding plains. It is fo ...
, ESE from the outer perimeter of the ancient crater formation.
Vaalkop (reservoir)
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See also
*List of reservoirs and dams in South Africa
The following is a partial list of dams in South Africa. __NOTOC__
In South African English (under influence of Afrikaans), a dam refers to both the wall as well as the reservoir or lake that builds up as a consequence.
List of dams (reservo ...
References
External links
R264m water scheme flows on
Vaalkop Dam Species Diversity Report, October 2009
Dams in South Africa
Dams completed in 2010
Crocodile River (Limpopo)
Buildings and structures in North West (South African province)
21st-century architecture in South Africa
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