{{Short description|Dam in Maidan Wardak Province of Afghanistan}} {{Infobox dam | name = Chak Dam | name_official = | image = | image_caption = | image_alt = | location_map = Afghanistan | location_map_size = | location_map_caption = | location_map_relief = 1 | coordinates = {{coord|34.106728|N|68.578339|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | country = Afghanistan | location = Chak, Chak District, Maidan Wardak Province, Afghanistan | purpose = Irrigation and electricity | status = o | construction_began = | opening = 1938 | cost = | owner = Ministry of Energy and Water | dam_type = Gravity | dam_height = | dam_height_thalweg = | dam_height_foundation= | dam_length = | dam_width_crest = | dam_width_base = | dam_volume = | dam_elevation_crest = | dam_crosses = Chak River | spillway_count = | spillway_type = | spillway_capacity = | res_name = | res_capacity_total = | res_capacity_active = | res_capacity_inactive= | res_catchment = | res_surface = | res_elevation = | res_max_depth = | res_max_length = | res_max_width = | res_tidal_range = | plant_operator = | plant_commission = | plant_decommission = | plant_type = | plant_turbines = | plant_capacity = | plant_annual_gen = | website = | extra = }}
The '''Chak Dam''' ({{langx|ps|چک برېښناکوټ}}), referred to by some as '''Band-e Chak''' (meaning ''Dam of Chak'' in Dari), is located near Chak, which is the center of Chak District in Maidan Wardak Province of Afghanistan. It is a hydroelectric gravity dam built by German engineers in 1938.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tasal |first=Hafizullah |date=1 June 2023 |title=Govt asked to fulfill promises about Chak dam's restoration |url=https://pajhwok.com/2023/06/01/govt-asked-to-fulfill-promises-about-chak-dams-restoration/ |access-date=2024-04-27 |work=Pajhwok Afghan News}}</ref><ref>{{cite report |url=http://www.shovic.com/henryshovic/AssetsGeography/Documents/Afghanistan/AfghanistanWardakDistrictChakDamSedimentAnalysis031412.pdf |title=RC-East, Eastern Afghanistan, GA-ADT, Wardak Province, Chak E Dam, Sluice Canal Sediment Analysis |last=Shovic |first=Henry F. |date=2012-03-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304131405/http://www.shovic.com/henryshovic/AssetsGeography/Documents/Afghanistan/AfghanistanWardakDistrictChakDamSedimentAnalysis031412.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It was mainly designed to regulate the flow of the Logar River and provide electricity to Kabul.
==History== Wardak province used to have a significant energy-generating capacity with the Chak Dam. Its four turbines could provide electricity to Maidan Wardak and parts of Kabul, Logar and Ghazni provinces.<ref>{{cite web |title=Study of Sub-National Administrative Structures in Afghanistan: Wardak Political Context and Security Structures |url=http://www.wardak.de/wardak_09_backup/PDF_Files/WB_Wardak_political.pdf |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518223536/http://www.wardak.de/wardak_09_backup/PDF_Files/WB_Wardak_political.pdf |archivedate=2012-05-18 |access-date=2012-02-04}}</ref>
In May 2005 the Chak Dam nearly overflowed as its main and emergency floodgates were rusted shut after six years of dry weather. The UN Development Programme, the Afghanistan Emergency Trust Fund, and the Ministry of Energy and Water took emergency action to address the threat. The co-operative effort saw a rapid response through immediate financing, planning and implementation of a {{cvt|16|m}} ancillary gate that could hold the water while the rusted gates were lifted and repaired.<ref>{{cite web |author=Amanullah Nasrat |last2=Mohammad Jawad Sharifzad |date=2005-05-04 |title=Afghanistan's Melting Snows Kill 14, Displace Thousands |url=http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/may2005/2005-05-04-05.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222835/http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/may2005/2005-05-04-05.html |archive-date=2016-03-03 |accessdate=2013-01-24 |publisher=Environment News Service}}</ref> The repairs were successful at a reported cost of $18,000 allowing evacuated residents to return to their homes in the valley.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 April 2005 |title=Afghanistan: UNDP assists in flood prevention at Chak-e Wardak Dam |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/afghanistan-undp-assists-flood-prevention-chak-e-wardak-dam |access-date=2013-01-24 |publisher=ReliefWeb}}</ref>
==See also== *List of dams and reservoirs in Afghanistan *List of power stations in Afghanistan *Tourism in Afghanistan
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{YouTube|NNvK6ny94J0|Deyare Ma at the 2nd power dam in Afghanistan/ دیار ما در بند چک ولایت وردک، دومین بند برق افغانستان}}, Ariana Television, June 23, 2023 *{{YouTube|QQlHy5lb_1Y|On the Road - Chak Wardak District of Maidan Wardak}}, TOLO TV, June 2, 2023 *{{YouTube|I6UQTgIeqdY|Wardak, Band-E-chack}}, July 7, 2022 *{{YouTube|XfJ-fuZ6abk|Band e Chak water Dam Wardak}}, June 10, 2022 *{{YouTube|K7t9RAGiKtM|وردګو اوونۍ: د چک برېښنا کوټ بيا رغول}}, BBC Pashto, October 23, 2017
{{Dams and reservoirs in Afghanistan}}
Category:Dams in Afghanistan Category:River regulation in Afghanistan Category:Water supply and sanitation in Afghanistan Category:Dams completed in 1938 Category:1938 establishments in Afghanistan