Tarbela Dam (Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa)
Tarbela Dam is constructed on the Indus River in Pakistan, and is the largest earth-filled dam in the world. It is located in Terbela in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, at the distance of 50km from Islamabad, on the narrow channel of the Indus River between Haripur and Swabi.
It is 485 feet high from the normal flow of the river. Tarbela Reservoir, Tarbela Lake, with an area of 250 square kilometres is used to store water for the production of electricity and irrigation purposes. The dam was constructed as a part of the Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan.
About Haripur
Haripur is situated in Hazara at the distance of 160 km from Peshawar on Karakorum Highway N35 on the bank of the Dor River, at an altitude of 2,000 feet. It was also the main city in the ancient Gandhara civilization. Mostly, it has hilly plain area with deep forest.
Haripur is founded by Sardaar Hari Singh Nalwa, who was the second Nazim of Hazara during Sikh regime. The area was considered as the headquarters of Hazara, so it was known as Haripur due to the General Hari Singh. It is bounded by Swabi, Buner, Islamabad, Taxila, Mansehra, and Abbottabad districts.
Haripur has importance due to important water reservoirs in Pakistan, the Tarbela Dam and the Khanpur Dam. It is playing important role in agriculture and forming as well as in industry. The Hatar Industrial Estate is an area developed by the Government for industrial growth. There are different industries in which fertilizers and chemicals are important.
Khanpur Dam is situated on the Haro River in Haripur at a distance of 50 km from Islamabad. The water reservoir, also known as the Khanpur Lake, supplies water to Islamabad and Rawalpindi as well as it facilitates irrigation and industries in the surrounding areas. The beautiful lake attracts thousands of tourists from all over the Pakistan due to number of water-based sports and activities in the lake. Due to huge water, the atmosphere around the lake also becomes pleasant and cool as compare to other parts of the city.
Rajgan Mosque is more than 100 years old. It was built in 1872 by Raja Sultan Jehandad Khan. Mosque is not in good condition now and need immediate restoration and rehabilitation.
Bhamala Stupa, belongs to the second and fifth century, has been discovered at Bhamala Buddhist Complex near Khanpur. The archaeological site had been declared as world heritage site. The ruin of the Bhamala Studpa is located in Khanpur on the bank of the Haro River.
Tarbela Dam is situated on the Indus River at a distance of 105 km from Islamabad in Swabi district in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa. It is the world's largest earth filled dam and the Tarbela Lake has approximately 250 square kilometers surface area. As the Indus River leaves Himalayas and enters into the Potwar Pleateau, then its water is stored in the reservoir of the dam. It was completed in 1976 against the Indus Water Treaty between Pakistan and India. It produces more than six thousands mega watts electricity. The dam was constructed after the Tarbela village in the Haripur district at the narrow passage of the Indus River, for the purpose to compensate the water in the eastern rivers Ravi, Sutlej and Beas. In this water, it becomes a main source of irrigation in all over the Punjab and Sindh plains.
The weather of Haripur is hot throughout the year, but in the winter season the weather becomes little pleasant. It receives a considerable amount of rain fall in the monsoon period, but precipitation is much higher in other months as well.