The Pa Sak Jolasid Dam or Pa Sak Cholasit Dam ( th, เขื่อนป่าสักชลสิทธิ์, ) impounds the
Pa Sak River
The Pa Sak River ( th, แม่น้ำป่าสัก, , Pronunciation is a river in central Thailand. The river originates in the Phetchabun Mountains, Dan Sai District, Loei Province, and passes through Phetchabun Province as the backb ...
at Ban Kaeng Suea Ten, Tambon Nong Bua,
Phatthana Nikhom District
Phatthana Nikhom ( th, พัฒนานิคม, ) is a district (''amphoe'') of Lopburi province in central Thailand.
Geography
Neighboring districts are (from the north clockwise) Chai Badan and Tha Luang of Lopburi Province, Muak Lek ...
,
Lopburi Province, and Ban Kham Phran, Tambon Kham Phran,
Wang Muang District,
Saraburi Province, Thailand. It is the biggest reservoir in
central Thailand
Central Thailand (Central plain) or more specifically Siam (also known as Suvarnabhumi and Dvaravati) is one of the regions of Thailand, covering the broad alluvial plain of the Chao Phraya River. It is separated from northeast Thailand (Isan) by ...
.
The wide and high dam is earth-filled with an impervious core. The storage capacity is 785 million m
3 of water at normal water level, with a maximum capacity of 960 million m
3. The dam also supplies about 6.7 MW of hydro-electric power.
History
The Pa Sak Cholasit Dam Project is one of the major irrigation projects of Thailand, providing water to the plantations in the Pa Sak valley and lower Chao Phraya valley. The dam also decreases problems of water management in
Bangkok
Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estima ...
by permitting more flood control, as the Pa Sak river was one of the main sources of flooding in the Bangkok metropolitan area.
King
Bhumibol Adulyadej
Bhumibol Adulyadej ( th, ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช; ; ; (Sanskrit: ''bhūmi·bala atulya·teja'' - "might of the land, unparalleled brilliance"); 5 December 192713 October 2016), conferred with the title King Bhumibol the Great ...
initiated a project to develop the Pa Sak River valley and lower Chao Phraya valley on 19 February 1989 as part of the Maenam Pa Sak Royal Development Project. On 4 July 1991 Prime Minister
Anand Panyarachun
Anand Panyarachun ( th, อานันท์ ปันยารชุน, , ; born 9 August 1932) was Thailand's Prime Minister twice: once in 1991–1992 and again during the latter half of 1992. He was effective in initiating economic and p ...
set up a study group for the dam project.
Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, The Princess Royal and Princess Debaratana Rajasuda ( th, มหาจักรีสิรินธร, ; ; born April 2, 1955), formerly Princess Sirindhorn Debaratanasuda Kitivadhanadulsobhak ( th, สมเ ...
presided over a royal ceremony on 15 June 1998, starting the storing of water in the reservoir.
On 20 October 1991 King
Bhumibol Adulyadej
Bhumibol Adulyadej ( th, ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช; ; ; (Sanskrit: ''bhūmi·bala atulya·teja'' - "might of the land, unparalleled brilliance"); 5 December 192713 October 2016), conferred with the title King Bhumibol the Great ...
gave the dam its official name, Pa Sak Cholasit. The king also presided over the inauguration of the dam on 25 November 1999. The park is now also a tourist attraction .
Railway
250px, left, An excursion train stops on the dam ridge for tourists to take pictures and take a walk
The construction of the dam meant that the original line of the
Northeastern Line Kaeng Khoi-Bua Yai Branch Line would be submerged under the reservoir. Therefore a railway viaduct was constructed in 1998 as a realignment of the line. It opened on 15 June 1998, along with the Pa Sak Jolasid Dam Railway Halt which was constructed to boost tourism in the area.
From November to January of the following year annually, for a total of three months, the
State Railway of Thailand
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) ( th, การรถไฟแห่งประเทศไทย, abbrev. รฟท., ) is the state-owned rail operator under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transport in Thailand.
History
The SRT was ...
(SRT) operates a special train known from
Bangkok
Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estima ...
to Pa Sak Jolasid Dam. It operates only on weekends. The main highlight of this trip is when the train stops on the railway viaduct, allowing passengers to stroll and take pictures.
References
External links
Pa Sak Cholasit Dam project
{{Lopburi
Dams in Thailand
Buildings and structures in Lopburi province
Buildings and structures in Saraburi province
Tourist attractions in Lopburi province
Tourist attractions in Saraburi province
Earth-filled dams
Hydroelectric power stations in Thailand
Dams completed in 1999
Energy infrastructure completed in 1999
1999 establishments in Thailand
Dong Phaya Yen Mountains