The is a

dam A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use, a ...

Bibai is a city located in Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. As of 2013, the city has an estimated population of 24,768, and the density of 89.2 persons per km2. The total area is 277.61 km2. History The name ''Bibai'' is derived from Ainu ...

Hokkaidō is Japan's second largest island and comprises the largest and northernmost prefecture, making up its own region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō from Honshu; the two islands are connected by the undersea railway Seikan Tunnel. The la ...

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

. The Bibai Dam is constructed along the Mikawa River and is part of the Ishikari River water system. Bibai Dam was Hokkaido's first multipurpose auxiliary dam project. It is a 35.5m tall concrete

Gravity dam A gravity dam is a dam constructed from concrete or stone masonry and designed to hold back water by using only the weight of the material and its resistance against the foundation to oppose the horizontal pressure of water pushing against it. ...

. The dam was named after the Bibai Lake in 1987 by public designation.

History

In August 1966, a flood occurred in the city of

Bibai, Hokkaido is a city located in Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. As of 2013, the city has an estimated population of 24,768, and the density of 89.2 persons per km2. The total area is 277.61 km2. History The name ''Bibai'' is derived from Ainu ...

which led to the deaths of 2 and the tremendous damage to the city. This led to the small and medium rivers and lakes improvement project review. A study of the revision of the high water flow rate and flood control plan conclusion that a flood dam plan should be considered. Due to the sharp decline in coal demand, the main industry in the region, the industrial structure was forced to change and the industrial area was moved from

Chashinai Station is a railway station on the Hakodate Main Line in Bibai, Hokkaidō, Japan, operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company The is one of the constituent companies of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group), and is often referred to using its offici ...

to Naie, Hokkaido in order to attract more business to the industrial park. Due to urbanization, it became necessary to secure a new water supply on an industrial scale. Due to the increase in demand for water, the

Babai River The Babai River ( ne, बबई नदी) originates in and completely drains Inner Terai Dang Valley of Mid-Western Nepal. Dang is an oval valley between the Mahabharat Range and Siwalik Hills in its eponymous district. Dang was ancient ...

Comprehensive Development Project and Bibai Dam Construction Plan were created in order to control floods and the utilization of water. The project launched in 1969 and ran until completion in 1982. From 2000 to 2004 the Biba Dam reconstruction project changed the dam's Crest Gate flood control method to the Overflow weir method. In 2004, the Sapporo Civil Engineering Bibai Comprehensive Dam Office was closed and management of the facility was transferred to the

Iwamizawa, Hokkaido is a city in Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital of Sorachi Subprefecture. As of September 30, 2016, the city has an estimated population of 84,127 and the density of 170 persons per km². The total area is . On March 27, ...

branch.

Tourism

Aside from the many coal mining sites that are found along

to the dam, there is als
ArtePiazza
the Coal Mining Memorial Forst Park. In late July, there is the Lake Bibai Festival as well as various hiking locations leading up to Mount Yubari.

References

{{reflist Dams in Hokkaido Dams completed in 1982 1982 establishments in Japan