Installed Capacity. The largest dam in North America by installed capacity is Grand Coulee Dam of United States with a capacity of 6,809 MW.The installed capacities of major dams in North America range from 85 MW to 6,809 MW, with the average being 1,869.2 MW.

Reservoir Volume. Daniel-Johnson Dam of Canada is the largest dam by reservoir volume in North America, with a reservoir of 142 billion m³.The reservoir volumes of major dams in North America range from 0.03 billion m³ to 142 billion m³, with the average dam impounding up to 18.2 billion m³ of water.

Dam Types. The most common dam type among the major dams in North America is the embankment dam.

Let's check out some of these tallest and largest dams in North America.

Chicoasén Dam.

Visita a la Presa Hidroeléctrica de Chicoasén (Youtube/Rutilio Escandón Cadenas)

Chicoasén Dam, also known as Manuel Moreno Torres, is an embankment dam located in Chicoasén, Chiapas, Mexico (North America). It was completed in 1980 (42 years old).

Chicoasén Dam is the 3^rd tallest embankment dam in the world. The embankment dam stands at a height of 261 meters and impounds up to 1.61 billion m³ of water. Chicoasén Dam has an installed capacity of 2,430MW.

Compare Chicoasén Dam with Blowering Dam from Australia.

Compare Chicoasén Dam with Çetin Dam from Turkey.

Mica Dam.

BC Hydro Mica Dam Test Spill 26 July 2012 base of dam (Youtube/TOC Vernon)

Mica Dam is located in Mica Creek, British Columbia, Canada (North America). The embankment dam was completed in 1973 (49 years old).

Mica Dam is the 2^nd tallest dam in North America. The structural height of Mica Dam is 240 meters. The embankment dam can hold up to 24.76 billion m³ of water and has an installed capacity of 2,805MW.

Compare Mica Dam with Oahe Dam from United States.

Compare Mica Dam with Bath County Pumped Storage Station from United States.

Oroville Dam.

Oroville Dam Aerial Video - Feb 16 2017 (credit: Youtube/Cal OES)

Located in Oroville, California, United States, Oroville Dam is an embankment dam. It was built in 1968 (54 years since completion).

Oroville Dam is the 3^rd tallest dam in North America. The structural height of Oroville Dam is 230 meters while its structural volume of 59.60 million m³. The embankment dam can hold up to 4.36 billion m³ of water and has an installed capacity of 819MW.

Compare Oroville Dam with Ilha Solteira Dam from Brazil.

Compare Oroville Dam with Kielder Water Dam from United Kingdom.

Hoover Dam.

Hoover Dam Aerial & Ground Tour Information (Youtube/ TampaAerialMedia)

Hoover Dam is located in Black Canyon, Arizona, United States (North America). The arch-gravity dam was completed in 1936 (86 years old).

The installed capacity of Hoover Dam is 2,080MW. The arch-gravity dam stands 221.40 meters tall and can impound up to 35.20 billion m³ of water. Its structural volume is 2.48 million m³.

Compare Hoover Dam with Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam from Russia.

Compare Hoover Dam with Berke Dam from Turkey.

Glen Canyon Dam.

Glen Canyon Dam -- Aerial Survey (Youtube/ Francha Cavitt)

Glen Canyon Dam is a 56-year-old arch-gravity dam (completed in 1966). It is located in Coconino County, Arizona, United States (North America).

Glen Canyon Dam is the 2^nd largest arch-gravity dam in the world by reservoir volume. The arch-gravity dam has an installed capacity of 1,320MW. Glen Canyon Dam stands 220 meters tall and can impound up to 33 billion m³ of water.

Compare Glen Canyon Dam with Gariep Dam from South Africa.

Compare Glen Canyon Dam with Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam from Russia.

Dworshak Dam.

EVH1971 Dworshak Dam Quadcopter flying (Youtube/Eric Hansen)

Located in Clearwater County, Idaho, United States, Dworshak Dam is a gravity dam. It was built in 1973 (49 years since completion).

The structural height of Dworshak Dam is 219 meters. The gravity dam can hold up to 4.28 billion m³ of water and has an installed capacity of 400MW.

Compare Dworshak Dam with Jinping-II Dam from China.

Compare Dworshak Dam with Bhakra Dam from India.

Daniel-Johnson Dam.

Drone Daniel Johnson Dam Quebec, Canada (Youtube/James Bebop)

Completed in 1970, Daniel-Johnson dam is a 52-year-old buttress dam. It is located in Manicouagan Regional County Municipality, Quebec, Canada (North America).

Daniel-Johnson Dam impounds the 3^rd largest reservoir volume in the world. The structural height of Daniel-Johnson dam is 214 meters while its structural volume of 2.20 million m³. The buttress dam can hold up to 142 billion m³ of water and has an installed capacity of 1,596MW.

Compare Daniel-Johnson Dam with Itaipu Dam from Brazil-Paraguay.

New Bullards Bar Dam.

Aerial Drone Views of New Bullards Bar Dam following massive storms (Youtube/Kevin McElligott)

New Bullards Bar Dam is a 53-year-old arch dam (completed in 1969). It is located in Yuba County, California, United States (North America).

The structural height of New Bullards Bar Dam is 197 meters. The arch dam can hold up to 1.20 billion m³ of water and has an installed capacity of 340MW.

Compare New Bullards Bar Dam with Dagangshan Dam from China.

Compare New Bullards Bar Dam with Goupitan Dam from China.

W. A. C. Bennett Dam.

Tour of the W.A.C. Bennett Dam (credit: Youtube/Shaw TV Northern BC)

Located in Hudson's Hope, British Columbia, Canada, W. A. C. Bennett Dam is an embankment dam. It was built in 1968 (54 years since completion).

The installed capacity of W. A. C. Bennett Dam is 2,876MW. The embankment dam stands 186 meters tall and can impound up to 7.40 billion m³ of water. Its structural volume is 43.70 million m³.

Compare W. A. C. Bennett Dam with Mangla Dam from Pakistan.

Compare W. A. C. Bennett Dam with Hirakud Dam from India.

Dams Lists

Largest/tallest Dams by Type: Arch Dams | Embankment Dams | Gravity Dams | Arch-Gravity Dams | Buttress Dams

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