ABSTRACT
Dams are barriers to the flow of rivers and streams constructed by human beings with the purpose of storing the flow for subsequent diversion and utilization. The history of human civilizations has an undeniable link with the ever-increasing degree of human-induced interventions in the natural watercourses. The early great civilizations flourished along major rivers such as the Tigris-Euphrates, Nile, and Indus. Over the past millennia, dams have played an immense role in the alterations of river flows. Starting from providing large water storage for municipal/industrial supplies and irrigation, dams have also been built for protection against floods and promotion of navigation. The earliest evidence of dam building comes from the river Nile in Egypt, where a masonry structure, about 15 meters high, was built to protect the ancient city of Memphis from flooding, reportedly in 2900 BC.
