19 March 2023 - ONE OF THE WORST DAM FAILURES - ITALY

 

ONE OF THE WORST 

DAM FAILURES 

- ITALY -

G'day folks,

The sinister ruins of one of the worst dam failures of the 20th century lie in this astonishing alpine setting. 

In a growing modern nation craving for energy, as Italy was at the beginning of the 20th century, hydroelectric power was a synonym of progress, representing a victory of humankind over nature. Yet in the mountains of Bergamo province in Lombardy, that attempted feat would take a tragic turn. 

 

Construction of a hydroelectric dam to exploit the river Gleno in the the Valle di Scalve (Scalve valley) began in 1916, but the project was immediately cursed by poor materials and poor workmanship. On top of that, due to funding problems, the plan changed from the original idea of a gravity dam to a multiple-arch dam while the work was still in progress, resulting in a mixed-type dam.

 

Just after its completion, heavy rains filled the reservoir, and several leaks caused concern among the inhabitants of the valley below.

Sure enough on December 1, 1923, at 7:15 in the morning, the tragedy happened. The central section collapsed, causing a mass of 4.5 million cubic meters of water to pour into the villages in the Scalve valley. The official death toll counted 356 lives lost as a result of the flood, as well as massive damage to roads, bridges and buildings.

What remains of the dam is a 160-foot-high concrete barrage with a huge, chilling laceration in its central section. The sinister ruins are a stark and surreal contrast with the stunning alpine surroundings. 

26 February 2021 - THE St. FRANCIS DAM FAILURE of 1928

 

THE St. FRANCIS

 DAM FAILURE of 1928

G'day folks,

The St. Francis dam failure is considered one of the worst civil engineering catastrophes in American history. 

 

Built between 1924 and 1926, St. Francis Dam was a curved concrete gravity dam that was meant to help meet Los Angeles’ growing need for water regulation and storage. It was located about 30 miles (50 km) northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Several cracks and leaks were observed in the dam and its abutments but they were dismissed as normal by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the general manager and chief engineer of the dam, William Mulholland.

 

On March 7, 1928, the reservoir was filled to capacity for the first time. After an inspection, Mulholland proclaimed it safe. Five days later, on March 12, the dam catastrophically failed. The resulting flood killed hundreds and swept away thousands of acres of fertile land. The disaster was largely blamed on poor design and the use of poor quality concrete, which allowed water to undermine the dam's foundations. It goes without saying that it also marked the end of Mulholland’s career.

 

Clancy's comment: A sad disaster for hundreds who probably didn't see it coming.

 

I'm ...

 

 

 

29 July 2020 - Pictures That Show A Town That Was Underwater For Over 30 Years – Buenos Aires

Pictures That Show A Town That

Was Underwater For Over 30 Years 

-  Buenos Aires -

G'day folks,

Have you ever heard of the town Villa Epecuen? Probably not because this town was covered by water for over 30 years. 

It’s located just south of Buenos Aires. It had over 5,000 residents and was established in the 1920s. It was a destination for thousands of people from Buenos Aires. But everything changed in 1985. There was a dam that burst and covered the town with 33 feet of salt water. People tried to wait it out and took refuge on their rooftops, but the water did not recede. Once they saw that the water wasn’t going anywhere, most residents left, leaving the town a modern-day ghost town.

In 2009, the water eventually started to recede, leaving behind massive destruction.

 Notice how the trees are still perfectly spaced, lining the road and sidewalk.

 

 One resident refused to leave! His name is Pablo Novak and he lives in a stone hut with a fridge and a basic wood burning stove. Guess he wasn’t ready to start over somewhere new. His home was located on the edge of the town.

This is such an eerie sight to see. The town is completely and utterly destroyed. Would you stick around this town in hopes of the water receding, or would you move and start new?

Clancy's comment: Just awful!

I'm ...