gåt

Gát is a Hungarian noun meaning dam or barrier used to obstruct or regulate the flow of water in rivers, lakes, or coastal areas. In civil engineering, a gát is built to create a reservoir, protect land from flooding, store water for irrigation, and sometimes to generate hydroelectric power.

Dams are constructed in several forms, including earthen (earthfill) dams, concrete gravity dams, arch dams, and buttress dams. A typical dam consists of an across-watercourse barrier, with features such as a spillway to pass excess water safely, a crest and abutments, and outlet works or gates to release water as needed. The reservoir behind the dam provides storage and may offer recreational benefits.

Dam projects require careful design, construction, and ongoing maintenance to ensure safety. They are subject to national and local regulations and periodic inspections to monitor structural integrity, seepage, and hydrological performance. The word gát is used in Hungarian to refer to both large-scale infrastructure and smaller barriers in irrigation systems or flood-control works. In general usage, gát can appear in compound place names or technical terms in Hungarian engineering literature.