Kheirabad Dam

Kheirabad Dam in Nikshahr is one of the natural and engineering attractions of Sistan and Baluchestan Province. It stands on the Kashig River, about 7 kilometres north of the city of Nikshahr. This earthfill dam with a clay core has a reservoir capacity of 27 million cubic metres and is one of the region's important sources of drinking and agricultural water. Kheirabad Dam was built in a mountainous area with a pleasant climate, and the tranquil view of its broad waters, together with the unspoiled nature around it, creates a delightful setting for travellers. The dam first overflowed in the second half of Bahman 1389, and it has since spilled again in 1398, 1399, Esfand 1402 and Farvardin 1403, which clearly shows how important the dam is for the region's water supply.

With a height of 41 metres from the foundation and 35 metres from the riverbed, a foundation width of 205 metres, an eight-metre-wide crest and a body length of 295 metres, Kheirabad Dam is a notable example of earthfill dam engineering in Iran. It was built to supply the drinking water needs of Nikshahr's residents for 50 years, to recharge groundwater aquifers, springs and qanats, and to support 600 hectares of farmland downstream. In addition, extensive geotechnical studies were carried out, including drilling boreholes and assessing the permeability and seepage of the dam's foundation rock, to guarantee the quality and durability of the construction, and a grout curtain was installed at the site.

The best time to visit Kheirabad Dam is winter and early spring, when the weather is cool and pleasant and the surrounding nature is at its most beautiful. Visitors can enjoy the calm, wide expanse of water, walk around the dam and photograph the unspoiled landscapes. Summers in the region are very hot and not suitable for sightseeing. Beyond its vital role in supplying water, Kheirabad Dam in Nikshahr is well worth a visit as a natural attraction and a place to experience silence and peace among the mountains and plains of Sistan and Baluchestan.