Mosul Dam

Iraq / Dahuk /
 dam, hydroelectric power station, 1986_construction, 1980s construction
Mosul Dam (Arabic,سد الموصل), formerly known as Saddam Dam (Arabic,سد صدام), is the largest dam in Iraq. It is located on the Tigris River in the western governorate of Ninawa, upstream of the city of Mosul. Its Reservoir is a key water supply to all the cities in th Tigris River course.

The earthen embankment dam is located on top of gypsum, a soft mineral which dissolves in contact with water. Continuous maintenance is required to plug, or "grout", new leaks with a liquefied slurry of cement and other additives. More than 50,000 tonnes (49,000 long tons; 55,000 short tons) of material have been injected into the dam since leaks began forming shortly after the reservoir was filled in 1986, and 24 machines currently continuously pump grout into the dam base. A September 2006 report by the United States Army Corps of Engineers noted, "In terms of internal erosion potential of the foundation, Mosul Dam is the most dangerous dam in the world."
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosul_Dam
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   36°37'39"N   42°49'27"E

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