South Australia
Barossa Dam and The Whispering wall
Barossa
Reservoir
Barossa Reservoir is a reservoir in South Australia , built
between 1899 and 1902 to supply water to Gawler and other northern country areas. At the time of
its completion, the reservoir was hailed as an engineering marvel, and at a
total of 36 metres, was the highest in Australia. The
thin arch of the dam retaining wall, curved against the pressure of the water,
was an innovation considered radical.
The Barossa Reservoir was formed
by damming the Yettie Creek gorge in the northern Mount Lofty Ranges . Its water
comes through a two-kilometre tunnel, carved by horse power, from the South Para River and Reservoir, and is supplemented by the Warren Reservoir and the River Murray. The
dam's vegetated surrounds are also protected. The area abounds in thick scrub,
tall red gums, and pines, and a flourishing bird and animal life. It is a
popular destination for picnics, bird-watching, fishing, and bush-walking. Now three regions - Gawler,
Elizabeth, and Munno Para - receive their water supply from the Barossa
Reservoir.
Whispering Wall
The
Whispering Wall is a retaining wall of
the Barossa Reservoir. It was built between 1899 and 1903, the dam was a
revolutionary engineering feat for its day.
But what draw visitors to the Whispering Wall is its unique acoustic effects: words whispered at one side can be clearly heard at the other, more than 140 m away. This seem like an acoustic miracle, but it has a simple explanation - the curve of the wall allows the sound waves to bounce along the entire length. This unusual acoustic phenomenon is a popular tourist attraction, and has earned the dam the title "Whispering Wall".
History
Originally inhabited by Aborigines, the Barossa Valley came under European settlement around 1836 .They planted wine-yards, orchards, and gardens. For all this cultivation, as well as the growing population, it was necessary to have a constant and good supply of water, more than the South Para river could provide, and so the idea of building a dam evolved.
The settlers decided that the Yettie Creek Gorge in the Mount Lofty Ranges would be perfect. The Irish-born Engineer Alexander Bain Moncrieff (1845- 1928) was appointed to draw up the blue-prints. Finally the Barossa Reservoir was built in 1902.
Originally inhabited by Aborigines, the Barossa Valley came under European settlement around 1836 .They planted wine-yards, orchards, and gardens. For all this cultivation, as well as the growing population, it was necessary to have a constant and good supply of water, more than the South Para river could provide, and so the idea of building a dam evolved.
The settlers decided that the Yettie Creek Gorge in the Mount Lofty Ranges would be perfect. The Irish-born Engineer Alexander Bain Moncrieff (1845- 1928) was appointed to draw up the blue-prints. Finally the Barossa Reservoir was built in 1902.
没有评论:
发表评论