Kouris Dam, Ciprus

The Kouris Dam in Cyprus is a key infrastructure for managing the island's water resources. Built in 1988, it is the largest dam in Cyprus with a capacity of approximately 115 million cubic meters of water. Located in the Limassol region , the dam was designed to collect and store the waters of the Kouris , Limnatis and Kryos rivers , significantly contributing to the area's water supply. Its construction involved major civil engineering works , including the diversion of the rivers and the construction of an artificial reservoir.

The Kouris reservoir is the key component of the "Southern Conveyor Project," the essential purpose of which is to collect and store excess water running down the southern coast of Cyprus. The waters is then redistributed for irrigation purposes and to supply drinking water to the island's southern and eastern regions.

In addition to its primary function as a water reservoir , the Kouris Dam plays a crucial role in flood prevention and seasonal flood control, protecting surrounding areas from water damage. The management of the dam is entrusted to the Cyprus Water Resources Development Department, which ensures constant monitoring of water levels and maintenance of the infrastructure to ensure its optimal functioning.

This is an earth dam with a central core of clay. It’s 100 m high, 560 m long along the crest, and 14 m wide; the dam has a spillway on the right bank which is 70 m long and an outlet channel about 700 m long, which ends with a ski-jump dissipator, complete with a stilling basin. Among the works carried out for this project there are also a diversion tunnel on the left bank that is 600 m long and 4.20 m in diameter, with an intake structure; an intake tower where the openings for collecting irrigation water are located; drilling and grouting work performed by means of culverts to consolidate the foundations and shoulders of the dam; ancillary works and access roads.

Kouris Dam project has had a significant impact on local agriculture, improving crop irrigation and allowing for more efficient management of water resources. The presence of the dam has also favored the development of recreational and tourist activities in the area, such as fishing, birdwatching and trekking, thus contributing to the local economy.