Infiernillo Dam

The Infiernillo Dam ("Little hell"), also known as Adolfo López Mateos Dam, is an embankment dam on the Balsas River near La Unión, Guerrero, Mexico. It is on the border between the states of Guerrero and Michoacán.^[1] The dam supports a hydroelectric power station containing six turbine-generators for a total installed capacity of 1,120 MW. The dam is 149 m (489 ft) high, 344 m (1,129 ft) long and is owned by Comisión Federal de Electricidad. Its first generator was operational on January 25, 1965.^[2][3]

Infiernillo Dam
Location of Infiernillo Dam in Mexico
Official name	Presa Adolfo López Mateos
Country	Mexico
Location	La Unión, Guerrero
Coordinates	18°16′23″N 101°53′34″W
Status	In use
Opening date	1965
Owner(s)	Comisión Federal de Electricidad
Dam and spillways
Height	149 m (489 ft)
Length	344 m (1,129 ft)
Width (base)	570 m (1,870 ft)
Dam volume	5,500,000 m3 (194,230,667 cu ft)
Reservoir
Creates	Infiernillo Reservoir
Total capacity	12,000,000,000 m3 (9,728,558 acre⋅ft)
Power Station
Commission date	1965
Installed capacity	1,120 MW

Placement of the dam embankment began in August 1962, and on December 7, 1963, the dam was topped off. The diversion tunnels were closed and the reservoir began to fill on June 15, 1964.^[4]