Chingaza Dam is a large dam in Colombia which supplies water to the capital city of Bogotá. The dam, on the Guatiquia River, is in the Chingaza National Park, 55 kilometres (34 mi) northeast of Bogotá. The dam is gravel fill with a concrete face. Behind the dam, the Chuza Reservoir holds 223,000,000 cubic metres (59×10^9 US gal).[1]

Chingaza Dam
Drainage basin of Chingaza Reservoir (Interactive map)
Official nameChingaza Dam
LocationChingaza Natural National Park,
Cundinamarca,
Colombia
Coordinates4°34′16″N 73°42′14″W / 4.571°N 73.704°W / 4.571; -73.704
Operator(s)Empresa de Acueducto y Alcantarillado de Bogotá – E.S.P. (Bogotá Water and Wastewater Company)
Dam and spillways
ImpoundsGuatiquia River
Height120 metres (390 ft)
Reservoir
CreatesChuza Reservoir
Chingaza Lake

Etymology

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The name Chingaza comes from Chibcha and means "middle of the width".[2]

History of conflict

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In January 2002, rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) damaged the dam in an act of terrorism by placing an explosive on a gate valve in one of the dam's tunnels.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Ingetec S.A. Water and Wastewater Systems". Archived from the original on 2007-10-06. Retrieved 2008-12-16.
  2. ^ (in Spanish) Etymology Chingaza[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "Water Conflict Chronology" (PDF). Pacific Institute, Oakland, California. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-05. Retrieved 2008-12-16.