About Dams
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This page gives some useful links to other web-sites that can tell you about dams and reservoirs, and how they are used.
Building big
Building Big, an excellent web-site about civil engineering structures, is designed for young people. It gives information on the different types of dams and forces that affect them. It tells you about the type of work that civil engineers do. You can try the "Dam Challenge", playing the role of a consulting dam engineer advising clients on their problem dams. Have a go, and see whether you make the right decision. There are some facts and figures on some large dams, and links to other useful web-sites about dams.
Dinorwig and Ffestiniog hydroelectric power stations
The Dinorwig and Ffestiniog hydroelectric power stations web-site gives details of how you can visit these power stations in North Wales to find out about the role that reservoirs and dams play in the generation of hydroelectric power.
The Elan Valley dams and reservoirs
Find out about the Elan Valley dams and reservoirs in Mid-Wales, why they were created and how they have supplied water to Birmingham for nearly 100 years. The web-site tells you when the Visitor Centre is open and how you can get there, if you want to tour the reservoirs.
River World
River World is a comprehensive resource for school projects on rivers and reservoirs. Geographical features of rivers are explained and there are pages on the causes and effects of flooding. The web-site describes how dams are constructed to create reservoirs and the various uses of reservoirs, including hydroelectric power generation, water supply and recreation. There are plenty of examples (with photographs) of real dams and rivers.
Yorkshire Water
Visit Yorkshire Water's web-site for "Kids" to find out about the water cycle, the way that water evaporated from the sea falls as rain and then is collected and stored in reservoirs. Find out how this water is treated to make it clean and distributed to our homes and factories. Then discover what happens to the dirty water after we have used it.
Water Scape
Waterscape is a web-site for people who care about Britain’s canals and rivers, and the many reservoirs that feed the canal system. You can find maps and details of places to walk, go boating or cycling, fishing, and the wildlife in the area.
