Mengkuang Dam
Mengkuang Reservoir
Mengkuang Dam is located in Malaysia
Mengkuang Dam
Location of Mengkuang Dam in Malaysia
Official nameEmpangan Mengkuang
LocationMalaysia
Coordinates5°23′38.63″N 100°30′21.53″E / 5.3940639°N 100.5059806°E / 5.3940639; 100.5059806
Construction began1982
Opening dateDecember 14, 1985
Owner(s)Penang State Government
Operator(s)Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang
Dam and spillways
ImpoundsMengkuang River
Height24.7 m (81 ft)
Reservoir
Total capacity23,600,000 m3 (830,000,000 cu ft)
Catchment area3.9 km2 (1.5 sq mi)
Mengkuang Dam viewed from the north

Mengkuang Dam (Malay: Empangan Mengkuang, Tasik Mengkuang) is a dam in Central Seberang Perai District, Penang, Malaysia.[1] It is the only dam situated in Seberang Perai (Penang Mainland) and the second dam built in Penang after Ayer Itam dam. It was officially opened by the former governor, Dr. Tun Awang bin Hassan in 1985.[1] It has the water catchment area of 3.9 km2 (1.5 sq mi) and a gross storage capacity of 23.6 billion litres (5.2×109 imp gal; 6.2×109 US gal) makes it the largest dam in Penang, almost 10 times the capacity of the Air Itam Dam.[1] Mengkuang Dam closed to the public from August 1, 2011, until July 31, 2016, for enlargement and renovation.[2] The US$200 million enlargement includes increasing the height of the dam by 11 m (36 ft) and its length 1.7 km (1.1 mi) to the west. A new intake and spillway will also be added.[3]

Recreation

The park in the dam area is a popular place for recreation. Mengkuang Dam is also one of the venues for the annual Penang International Dragon Boat Festival. The festival is a fiesta of colour and noise, in which traditionally-built boats race through the waters of this dam, the boats are cheered on by enthusiastic spectators. The race begins with a slow beating of the drums by the helmsmen. The beat increases steadily, going faster and faster, and then rising to a crescendo as the boats cross the finish line. The ornate and painted 'dragons' on the boats' prows add to the gaiety of the festival.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Empangan Mengkuang". penang.gov.my. Retrieved 2021-08-07.
  2. ^ "Penutupan Kawasan Empangan Mengkuang Kepada Orang Awam Mulai 1 Ogos 2011 Hingga 31 Julai 2016". penang.gov.my. 4 July 2011. Archived from the original on 7 August 2011.
  3. ^ "Mengkuang Dam Expansion Project, Malaysia". China International Water and Electric Corporation. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  4. ^ "Mengkuang Dam". Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2011-01-15.


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