Construction of the dam Construction of the dam
Kárahnjúkavirkjun is a hydroelectric power plant in the east of Iceland. The current is used for the new Fjardaal aluminum smelter in Reyðarfjörður.
Two rivers were demolished for the center to form the Hálslón reservoir. This reservoir has an area of 57 km² and allows for a maximum water flow of 110 m³ / s. The installed electrical power is 690 MW and the annual output is around 4600 GWh.
The project was largely commissioned by the Icelandic national energy company Landsvirkjun and partly funded by Alcoa, an American company that is one of the largest aluminum producers. Alcoa uses most of the electricity for an aluminum smelter that moved it from the United States to save costs and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
The construction project was the largest of its kind in Iceland. It started at the beginning of 2003 and was completed in 2009. Five large dams were built, the largest of which is the Kárahnjúkastífladam, 193 meters high and 730 meters long. The glacier river Jökulsá in Fljótsdalur and Jökulsá á Dal, both of which originated in the ice cap of the north-eastern part of the Vatnajökull, were closed. This resulted in the 57 km² Hálslón reservoir.
The building caused major protests: unspoilt area was destroyed and the raw materials and finished products of aluminum production have to be decommissioned. However, a majority of the Icelandic people seemed to be in favor. Unlike, for example, the Driekloendeam, no villages or cities were to be moved. 64 ° 57 'NB, 15 ° 47' WL
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