Tarbela Dam is a large dam in Pakistan, built on the Indus River. The spelling of Tarbela Dam is pronounced as /tɑːr bɛl ə dæm/. The ‘t’ is pronounced as a voiceless alveolar plosive, the ‘a’ as a long open-mid back unrounded vowel, the ‘r’ as a voiced alveolar trill, the ‘b’ as a voiced bilabial stop, the ‘e’ as a short close-mid front unrounded vowel, the ‘l’ as a voiced alveolar lateral approximant, the ‘ə’ as a schwa vowel, the ‘d’ as a voiced dental plosive, the ‘æ’ as a short near-open front unrounded vowel, and the ‘m’ as a voiced bilabial nasal.
Tarbela Dam is a monumental engineering structure located in the Haripur District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan. It is one of the largest dams in the world and holds significant importance for Pakistan's water and hydroelectric power needs.
The dictionary definition of Tarbela Dam would describe it as a massive concrete arch dam built on the Indus River, primarily constructed for the purposes of flood control, water storage, and hydroelectric power generation. With a height of approximately 485 feet and a length of about 9,000 feet, it has the capacity to store a vast amount of water.
The dam's reservoir, known as Tarbela Lake, extends over an area of approximately 100 square miles, offering a substantial water supply for agricultural, domestic, and industrial needs. Additionally, Tarbela Dam possesses a power station that houses multiple units, allowing for the generation of a tremendous amount of electricity. It has a total installed capacity of around 4,888 megawatts, making it one of the most significant contributors to Pakistan's power grid.
Tarbela Dam plays a crucial role in the irrigation system of Pakistan, providing vital water resources to numerous agricultural areas in the downstream regions. The dam's construction commenced in the 1960s and was completed in 1976. It stands as a symbol of engineering excellence and has become a prominent landmark in Pakistan, contributing significantly to the country's development and progress.
The word "Tarbela Dam" is derived from two components: "Tarbela" and "Dam".
1. Tarbela:
The word "Tarbela" is derived from the name of a settlement near the dam site in Pakistan. It refers to the Tarbela village, which is situated in the Haripur District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The village is named after Saint Tarapal or Tara Bal, who was a 14th-century Sufi saint and scholar. The name "Tarapal" means "star guardian" in the local language.
2. Dam:
The word "dam" is of Middle English origin and can be traced back to the Old Norse and Old Germanic roots. In Old Norse, the term "dammr" referred to a barrier or a blocking structure.