The Aguas Blancas Dam, once known as the Basso Dam, is a dam located in Lavalleja, Uruguay. It is located in the Aguas Blancas area in the Abra de Zabaleta mountains on route No. 81, which is accessed from kilometer 91 of route No. 8 or from route No. 60.
The dam is built on the Mataojo stream and its purpose is to irrigate fruit farms in the area. On December 19, 1943, with the presence of President Juan José de Amézaga, national authorities, municipal officials and farmers, it was established the artificial irrigation service, which includes 565 hectares, for which a reservoir of 118,000 m³ was calculated. The largest apple establishment in the country operated in the area.
Region
editThe dam is located in Aguas Blancas National Park adjoining a camping area administered by the Municipality of Lavalleja. In the vicinity of the dam, there is a Salesian convent of nuns that occupies the site of the first mill that generated hydropower in the country. The mill was established by an immigrant, Enrique Ladós, in 1860.
At the top of the hill is located the Virgen Blanca Chapel.
Also near the dam is the Sengue Dzong Temple, a temple of Vajrayāna Buddhism (also known as Tibetan Buddhism).