Jindabyne Dam is a major ungated rockfill embankment dam across the Snowy River in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. The dam's main purpose is to redirect water from the Snowy River to the Murray, for the generation of hydro-power and irrigation. It is one of the sixteen major dams that comprise the Snowy Mountains Scheme, a vast hydroelectricity and irrigation complex constructed in south-east Australia between 1949 and 1974 and now run by Snowy Hydro.
An aerial view of Lake Jindabyne, with the dam wall pictured bottom left, 2009.
The lake viewed from the town of Jindabyne
Jindabyne, as viewed from across Lake Jindabyne.
The Snowy River is a major river in south-eastern Australia. It originates on the slopes of Mount Kosciuszko, Australia's highest mainland peak, draining the eastern slopes of the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales, before flowing through the Alpine National Park and the Snowy River National Park in Victoria and emptying into Bass Strait.
The Snowy River below McKillops Bridge
Headwaters of the Snowy River, with Mount Kosciuszko beyond
The Snowy River near Suggan Buggan, in Victoria, 2008
Snowy River mouth at Marlo in flood, 2012