Hirakud

Hirakud refers to Hirakud Dam and the surrounding area in Odisha, India. The dam is built across the Mahanadi River near the city of Sambalpur in Sambalpur district. It creates the Hirakud Reservoir, one of Asia's largest artificial lakes, and is a major symbol of post-independence water resources development in India.

Hirakud Dam was constructed as a multipurpose project to provide flood control, irrigation for western Odisha, and hydroelectric power. Construction began in 1948 and was completed in 1957, with the project formally opened in 1957. It is an earth-filled dam and is among the longest such dams in the world.

The reservoir and dam have had significant social and economic impacts, enabling irrigation across thousands of hectares and contributing to regional agriculture and fisheries. The project also includes power facilities as part of the Mahanadi river basin. The dam is a major tourist attraction, with boat trips and viewpoints along the reservoir.

Locally, the area around Hirakud has developed in relation to the dam, and the town of Hirakud grew as part of the dam's infrastructure and administration.