Mettur Dam, Mettur, Tamil Nadu.

Photo credit by India WRIS.

The Mettur Dam is one of the largest dams in India. Built in 1934, it was constructed in a gorge, where the Kaveri River enters the plains.

The Mettur Dam has received public attention since the latter half of the 20th century, and especially in the mid-1990s, due to the Kaveri River water dispute between the States of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Mettur Dam, which is in Salem District in Tamil Nadu, is scenically located where the River Cauvery enters the plains. The dam spans a length of 1700 meters (5,600 feet) and is 214 feet high. It creates the Stanley Reservoir and is a major power source for Tamil Nadu. It also provides irrigation to many areas including parts of Salem, Namakkal, Erode, Karur, Tiruchirapalli and Thanjavur districts. Mettur Dam is a picturesque place and is ideal for a relaxed picnic.