| Kyiv Cistern | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Kyiv Cistern  Kyiv Cistern | |
| Location | North of Kyiv, Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine |
| Coordinates | 50°49′12″N 30°27′49″E / 50.82000°N 30.46361°ECoordinates: 50°49′12″N 30°27′49″E / 50.82000°N 30.46361°E |
| Type | Hydroelectric reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Dnieper River |
| Primary outflows | Dnieper River |
| Basin countries | Russia, Belarus, Ukraine |
| Max. length | 110 km (68 mi) |
| Max. width | 12 km (7.5 mi) |
| Surface area | 922 km2 (356 sq mi) |
| Max. depth | 8 m (26 ft) |
| Water volume | 3.7 km3 (0.89 cu mi) |
| Surface elevation | 99 m (325 ft) |
The Kyiv Cistern (Ukrainian: Київське водосховище, romanized: Kyyivs’ke vodoskhovyshche), locally the Kyiv Sea, is a large water reservoir located on the Dnieper River in Ukraine. Named after the city of Kyiv, which lies to the south, it covers a total area of 922 square kilometres (356 sq mi) within the Kyiv Oblast. The reservoir was formed in 1960–1966, as a result of the Kyiv Hydroelectric Power Plant dam being built at Vyshhorod. The reservoir is mainly used for hydroelectricity generation, industrial and public consumption, and irrigation.
The reservoir is 110 km in length, 12 km in width, has a depth of four to eight meters, a volume of 3.7 km3 (0.89 cu mi), and a usable volume of 1.2 km3 (0.29 cu mi). The reservoir, together with the Kakhovka Reservoir, the Dnieper Reservoir, the Kamianske Reservoir, the Kremenchuk Reservoir, and the Kaniv Reservoir, has created a deep-water route on the river. However, the construction has also contributed to significant environmental problems such as the diminished flow velocity which reduces water oxygenation, and has a negative result on the balance of aquatic life forms. Also, during its construction some nearby villages were flooded. One of these was Teremtsi, where the residents of the village persuaded Soviet authorities to let them stay, only to be evacuated later in 1986 during the Chernobyl disaster.
Safety issues
Like all Dnieper reservoirs, Kyiv reservoir poses potential threat of tremendous flooding if its dam is destroyed. Moreover, it contains additional major threat - after the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster in 1986, radionuclides washed away by rains badly contaminated the bottom silt of the reservoir. During the years following the disaster, there were suggestions to drain the reservoir because it was too shallow. It appeared that, if done, this might have created the threat of radioactive dust travelling by wind, possibly affecting Europe.
A similar threat was permanently discussed regarding the potential destruction of the reservoir's dam (as a result of natural accident, terrorist or war damage). But the authorities continued to dismiss such dangers as unreal, claiming to be in full control of the dam's safety. However, serious concerns were raised in 2005, when a fake terrorist alert was made.
Worries about a possible destruction arose once again in February 2022 during the Kyiv offensive. At some point between 25 and 26 February, the plant was captured by Russian forces.[1] On 26 February, Ukrainian forces recaptured the power plant.[2] Ukrainian air defenses also allegedly intercepted a missile aimed for the plant. Interfax stated that if the plant's dam were to fail, flooding could destroy "the entire left bank of Kyiv".[3]
Gallery
The reservoir's surface is a combination of ice-covered and ice-free areas in this springtime image.
See also
References
- ^ "Kyiv hydroelectric power plant controlled by Russian troops - Ifax". Reuters. 2022-02-26. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
- ^ "Київська ГЕС повністю під контролем України – міністр енергетики". Інтерфакс-Україна (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2022-02-26.
- ^ "Українські ППО збили ракету, що летить у бік дамби Київського водосховища, - "Укрводшлях", Мінінфраструктури". Інтерфакс-Україна (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2022-02-26.
External links
- Information about the reservoir at the Wayback Machine (archived October 27, 2009)
- “Аргументы и факты” о реальных угрозах дамбы Киевского водохранилища и ГЭС
- “Известия” о проблематике плотины Киевского водохранилища и ГЭС
- Эксперт УНИАН об угрозах дамбы Киевского водохранилища
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