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Story: Otago places

Benmore dam spillway

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Benmore dam spillway
The Benmore dam, completed in 1965, is one of three major dams – the others are Waitaki (1935) and Aviemore (1968) – on the upper Waitaki River. Water is occasionally released from the lake to control its level, producing a spectacular display for passers-by, as here in January 2009, when around 970 cubic metres of water were released per second.

Using this item

Otago Daily Times

Reference: 20 January 2009, p. 9

by David Bruce

Permission of the Otago Daily Times must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Malcolm McKinnon, Otago places – North Otago, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/22743/benmore-dam-spillway (accessed 11 June 2026).

Story by Malcolm McKinnon, published 19 August 2009, updated 1 July 2015.