Magat Dam, Isabela Province

MAGAT DAM is a large rock-fill dam located at the boundaries of Ramon, Isabela & Alfonso Lista, Ifugao, approximately 350 kilometers north of Metro Manila. Construction of the dam started in 1975 and was completed in 1982. Magat Dam is one of the largest dams in the Philippines.

The Magat Dam is on the Magat River, which is the largest tributary of the Cagayan River on the island of Luzon. Cagayan is the longest river in the Philippines. The Magat River has an estimated yearly water discharge of 9,808 million cubic meters and has an approximate crest lenght of 4,160 meters (13,650 ft) with its headwaters in the province of Nueva Vizcaya and its confluence with the Cagayan River in the province of Isabela.

MAGAT DAM FEATURES

Height: 314 meters (1,030 ft)

Crest Lenght: 4,160 meters (13,650 ft)

Volume of Rocks & Earth Materials: 18 million cubic meters

Concrete = 1.00 million cubic meters 

It is a multi-purpose dam which is used primarily for irrigating about 85,000 hectares (210,000 acres) of agricultural lands, flood control and power generation through the Magat Hydroelectric Power Plant.

The water stored in the reservoir is enough to supply about two months of normal energy requirements. 

The dam was constructed to last for 50 years but increased siltation and sedimentation in the reservoir, slash-and-burn farming, illegal logging and fish-caging resulted in teh deterioration of the dam's watershed.

The construction and appurtenant structures was authorized by P.D. 693 signed on May 7, 1975 by the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos. The Magat Dam was constructed in 1978 and inaugurated by the late Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos on October 27, 1982 and started operations in 1983.

The Magat hydroelectric power plant is a four-unit powerhouse with an installed capacity of 360 megawatts. It is designed to accommodate two more units that will allow it to generate up to 540 megawatts. The hydroelectric plant is a peaking power plant, which means that it only operates when there is a high demand for electricity in the Luzon power grid, to which the plant is connected. It is capable of providing ancillary services for the stability of the grid.

Magat Dam aquaculture park was established thru Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 2 and it is considered as the single biggest area for aquaculture operations in the Region.

You can visit this place for free....

(note: data from wikipedia)