Engineer It! Dam Projects

Engineer It! Dam Projects — page 1 — WHAT IS A DAM A dam is a structure that stops or slows a stream or river Dams are important because they help us control water's natural flow Humans build many dams We use them to keep water where we need it Dams also keep water out of places where we don't want it There are also natural dams These can be caused by landslides or glacial ice And some dams are even built by beavers HUMAN MADE DAM BEAVER DAM

Engineer It! Dam Projects — page 2 — A HOW DAM WORKS A dam is built across a river The water flowing downstream hits the dam The water can't get through the dam so it stops flowing The water forms a lake behind the dam The lake formed by a dam is called a reservoir Many dams have a way to let some water through So a smaller river flows away from the dam on the other side RESERVOIR DAM FALLING WATER POWER PLANT THAT CAPTURES ENERGY CREATED BY FALLING WATER RIVER

Engineer It! Dam Projects — page 3 — HOW PEOPLE USE DAMS Dams have many uses These include electricity agriculture flood control and recreation ELECTRICITY Some power plants are built on rivers These plants have dams that the water flows through The flowing water pushes turbines inside the dams The turbines create electrical power These dams are called hydroelectric dams

Engineer It! Dam Projects — page 4 — AGRICULTURE Farmers can use dams to direct the flow of water on their land This helps them water their crops FLOOD CONTROL Dams help control the water level when a river or lake is too full Floodgates can be opened to let some of the water out RECREATION People use lakes formed by dams for activities such as swimming boating and fishing

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