Photo: Hydroelectric System Aviemore Dam

The Aviemore Dam is the main source of the Waitaki River hydroelectric system along Highway 83 in North Otago on the South Island of New Zealand.

The Aviemore Dam in North Otago, New Zealand is built across Lake Aviemore which sits above the dam and Lake Waitaki which is located below the dam. The Waitaki River Hydroelectric System is responsible for about thirty percent of New Zealand's hydroelectric generation capacity and the Aviemore Dam is the main feature for this service.The foundation of the Aviemore Dam is built across the Waitangi earthquake fault line and studies have been performed to evaluate the damage that could be caused if an earthquake happened in the area. The dam itself is up to earthquake standards but if a big one hits, the dam could be destroyed which would also ruin the hydroelectric system.The Aviemore Dam in North Otago, New Zealand is one of three dams in the Waitaki Valley and the most recent one that has been built. Completion of this dam was in 1968 and it was made from earth and concrete.Trout in this area migrate upstream from Lake Waitaki to their official spawning grounds which is extremely close to the base of the Aviemore Dam. ... continue below the picture...

... Both the man-made lakes known as Aviemore and Waitaki are part of the hydroelectric system of this region of New Zealand with Lake Waitaki being the smallest of the three lakes and they all make up the Waitaki hydroelectric project.Aviemore Dam with Lake Aviemore (above) and Lake Waitaki at its base, along Highway 83, North Otago, South Island, New Zealand.