Virgen Dam

The Virgen Dam is an embankment dam on the Viejo River near the town of El Hato de La Virgen in Matagalpa Department, Nicaragua. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power generation and it supports the 50 MW (67,000 hp) run-of-the-river Carlos Fonesca (Santa Barbara) Plant. The dam and power station were completed in 1972. Water from the dam is diverted along the left bank of the river through a 2.7-kilometre (1.7 mi) long channel before being piped underground over 4.8 km (3.0 mi) to the power plant near Santa Barbara on the Viejo River. The plant contains two 25 megawatts (34,000 hp) Francis turbine-generators.^[1] The difference in elevation between the dam and power station affords a hydraulic head (water drop) of 187 metres (614 ft).^[2]

Virgen Dam
Location of Virgen Dam in Nicaragua
Official name	Presa La Virgen
Country	Nicaragua
Location	El Hato de La Virgen, Matagalpa Department
Coordinates	12°46′24.26″N 86°14′9.21″W
Purpose	Power
Status	Operational
Opening date	1972; 53 years ago (1972)
Owner(s)	Empresa Nicaragüense de Electricidad (ENEL)
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Embankment
Impounds	Viejo River
Reservoir
Creates	Lake Virgen
Surface area	6 km2 (2.3 sq mi)
Carlos Fonesca (Santa Barbara) Plant
Coordinates	12°42′54.64″N 86°16′46.41″W
Commission date	1972
Hydraulic head	187 m (614 ft)
Turbines	2 x 25 MW (34,000 hp) Francis-type
Installed capacity	50 MW (67,000 hp)

In 1998 heavy rains and flooding from Hurricane Mitch severely damaged the Mancotal and El Dorado Dams, over-topping their spillways and nearly destroying the dams. The Virgen Dam was destroyed but later rebuilt.^[3][4]