Fanshawe Dam 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 ...

located on North Thames River near the eastern edge of

London, Ontario London (pronounced ) is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada, along the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor. The city had a population of 422,324 according to the 2021 Canadian census. London is at the confluence of the Thames River, approximate ...

. The crest of the dam is 625 metres long. It is 30.5 metres in height and drops the river surface 12 metres.

Fanshawe Lake Fanshawe Lake, is a small man-made lake east of London, Ontario. It is fed by the Thames River from the north, and is separated from the river to the southwest by Fanshawe Dam. The Lake is a popular choice for boaters during the summer months, an ...

is the reservoir created by the dam. The

hydroelectric generator Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies one sixth of the world's electricity, almost 4500 TWh in 2020, which is more than all other renewable sources combined and ...

of the Fanshawe Dam generates enough power to run 400 households. It is one of three dams on the

Thames River The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the second-longest in the United Kingdom, after the R ...

and its tributaries. After repeated floods, the

Upper Thames River Conservation Authority The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority is a body based in London, Ontario, Canada. It was created in 1947. It was responsible for the construction of the Fanshawe Dam, completed in the 1950s, to control flooding from the Thames River (On ...

built the dam to control the level of the

; construction began in 1950 and completed in 1952. It cost $5 million - Federal government 37.5%, Provincial government 37.5%,

25% (95% from City of

, 5% from London Township). A seismograph is placed inside the dam by the

University of Western Ontario The University of Western Ontario (UWO), also known as Western University or Western, is a public research university in London, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land, surrounded by residential neighbourhoods and the Thames R ...

’s geology department.

References

{{Reflist Dams in Ontario Buildings and structures in London, Ontario Dams completed in 1952

See also

References