{{Short description|Dam on the border of Senegal and Mauritania}} {{Infobox dam | name = Diama Dam | name_official = ''Barrage de Diama'' | image = Barrage de Diama.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = Ship lock on the dam | image_alt = | location_map = Senegal | location_map_size = | location_map_caption = | location_map_alt = | coordinates = {{coord|16|13|0.20|N|16|24|53.63|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | country = Senegal/Mauritania | location = Diama-Maka | purpose = Navigation, water quality, irrigation | status = O | construction_began = 1981 | opening = {{Start date and age|1986}} | demolished = | cost = US$149.5 million | owner = | dam_type = Gravity | dam_crosses = Senegal River | dam_length = {{Convert|610|m|ft|abbr=on}} | dam_height = {{Convert|18|m|ft|abbr=on}} | dam_height_foundation= | dam_height_thalweg = | dam_elevation_crest = | dam_width_crest = | dam_width_base = | dam_volume = | spillway_count = | spillway_type = | spillway_capacity = {{Convert|6500|m3/s|ft3/s|abbr=on}} | res_name = | res_capacity_total = {{Convert|250000000|m3|acre.ft|abbr=on}} | res_capacity_active = | res_capacity_inactive= | res_catchment = | res_surface = {{Convert|235|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} | res_max_length = | res_max_width = | res_max_depth = | res_elevation = | res_tidal_range = | plant_name = | plant_coordinates = | plant_operator = | plant_commission = | plant_decommission = | plant_type = | plant_turbines = | plant_hydraulic_head = | plant_capacity = | plant_annual_gen = | website = | extra = }} The '''Diama Dam''', sometimes referred to as the '''Maka–Diama Dam''' (French: ''Barrage de Maka-Diama'') is a gravity dam on the Senegal River, spanning the border of Senegal and Mauritania. It is located next to the town of Diama, Senegal and about {{Convert|22|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of Saint-Louis, Senegal. The purpose of the dam is to prevent saltwater intrusion upstream, supply water for the irrigation of about {{Convert|45000|ha|acre|abbr=on}} of crops and create a road crossing for the road between St. Louis and Nouakchott in Mauritania. Additionally, a ship lock built within the dam provides for navigation upstream. Plans for the dam were first drawn in 1970 when the riparian states within the Senegal River Basin Development Authority agreed to develop the Senegal River. The Diama Dam was to be constructed in conjunction with the Manantali Dam which was to be located further upstream in Mali. Construction on the Diama Dam began on 15 September 1981 and was completed on 12 August 1986. The Manantali Dam was completed in 1988. The Diama project was funded by a US$149.5 million loan from the African Development Bank.{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Dams in Africa|url=http://www.fao.org/nr/water/aquastat/dams/african_dams.xls|publisher=UN FAO|accessdate=22 April 2014}}</ref> The main section of the dam with ship lock and spillway is {{Convert|170|m|ft|abbr=on}} long while a {{Convert|440|m|ft|abbr=on}} long embankment dam section extends north to the edge of the river. A dike further extends the dam to the north. The dam is {{Convert|18|m|ft|abbr=on}} tall and its spillway has a maximum discharge of {{Convert|6500|m3/s|ft3/s|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.portail-omvs.org/sites/default/files/fichierspdf/c2-barrage_diama_-_role_et_enjeux_-juin_2006_-_vf_1.pdf | title=Barrage de Diama | publisher=OVMS | accessdate=22 April 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328190228/http://www.portail-omvs.org/sites/default/files/fichierspdf/c2-barrage_diama_-_role_et_enjeux_-juin_2006_-_vf_1.pdf | archive-date=28 March 2018 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
The small town of Diama is known as a border crossing to and from Mauritania, as the dam is the only land bridge between the two countries.<ref name="Connolly2015">{{cite book|last=Connolly|first=Sean|title=Senegal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7U7fCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA215|year=2015|publisher=Bradt Travel Guides|isbn=978-1-84162-913-1|pages=215–217}}</ref>
==See also== *Schistosomiasis *Félou Hydroelectric Plant – upstream *Gouina Hydroelectric Plant – upstream *Manantali Dam – upstream
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Commons category|Barrage de Diama}}
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Category:Dams in Senegal Category:Dams in Mauritania Category:Dams completed in 1986 Category:Saint-Louis region Category:Trarza region Category:Dams on the Senegal River Category:Mauritania–Senegal relations