Canyon Dam (Sri Lanka)

The Canyon Dam is a large arch-gravity dam built across the Maskeliya Oya, 4.5 km upstream of the iconic Laxapana Falls, in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. The associated power station plays a major role in the national power grid, due to its significant output. The dam is surrounded by steel structures of the substation.

Reservoir and power station
The dam creates the relatively small Canyon Reservoir, measuring at 450 m and 350 m in its longest length and width, respectively. The reservoir's primary source of water is the Maskeliya Oya, with additional water discharged from the Canyon HPower Station, located at the same site.

Water from the Canyon Reservoir is further transferred through a penstock to the New Laxapana Power Station, located 7 km downstream, at 6.91806°N, 80.49194°W, 1.5 km northwest of Kiriwan Eliya. The power station consists of two hydroelectric generators of 50 MW each. Both generators were commissioned in February 1974.