Mettur is a dam in Tamil Nadu, which is situated about 30 kms from Salem. It is connected by rail with other parts of the state. Buses are also available from Salem to Mettur. Mettur dam is one of the largest of its kind in the world.
Mettur Dam, Tamil Nadu, South India was constructed in a gorge where the river Cauvery enters the plains. It has a height of 65 metre, length 1616 metre, area 15,540 hectare and capacity 2648 cubic metre. This is a hydro-electric power station, which produces 240 mega watt power. During the floods and rains, water is stored here and let out for irrigating to the deltaic regions of the Cauvery.
There is also a beautifully decorated garden. The Cauvery crossing near the Mettur dam is the place where a canal crosses over Cauvery. Overhead pipelines to the other side carry the water of the canal. Large number of factories can be seen here including those of soaps and detergent manufacturing factories, galvanizing plants, Vanaspathi units etc. The tourists can see them with proper permit. The visitors can also enter the tunnel of the Mettur dam and see the hydroelectric power station after taking proper permission.
