Description
A dam is a barrier for preventing the flow of water. Dams are built to provide water for human consumption, for irrigating arid and semiarid lands, or for use in industrial processes. They also can be used to increase the amount of water available for generating hydroelectric power, to reduce peak discharge of floodwater created by large storms or heavy snowmelt, or to increase the depth of water in a river in order to improve navigation and allow barges and ships to travel more easily (Jackson, 2020).
Citation
Jackson, D. C., & Brown, J. G. (2020, March 24). Dam. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from www.britannica.com/technology/dam-engineering
