SUPER SIMPLE ENGINEERING PROJECTS ENGINEER IT DAM PROJECTS CAROLYN BERNHARDT CONSULTING EDITOR DIANE CRAIG M A READING SPECIALIST Super Sandcastle An Imprint of Abdo Publishing abdopublishing com
WHAT IS A DAM A dam is a structure that stops or slows a stream or river Dams are important because they help us control water's natural flow Humans build many dams We use them to keep water where we need it Dams also keep water out of places where we don't want it There are also natural dams These can be caused by landslides or glacial ice And some dams are even built by beavers HUMAN MADE DAM BEAVER DAM
A HOW DAM WORKS A dam is built across a river The water flowing downstream hits the dam The water can't get through the dam so it stops flowing The water forms a lake behind the dam The lake formed by a dam is called a reservoir Many dams have a way to let some water through So a smaller river flows away from the dam on the other side RESERVOIR DAM FALLING WATER POWER PLANT THAT CAPTURES ENERGY CREATED BY FALLING WATER RIVER
