Overview
Which are the tallest and largest embankment dams in North America ?
Tallest Dams. The tallest embankment dam in North America is Chicoasén Dam of Mexico with a height of 261 meters. At second and third, are Mica Dam at a height of 240 meters and Oroville Dam at 230 meters.The heights of the major embankment dams in North America range from 41 meters to 261 meters, with the average height at around 133.0 meters.
Countries with most major embankment dams. The country with the most major embankment dams in North America is United States.
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Installed Capacity. The largest embankment dam in North America by installed capacity is Robert-Bourassa Generating Station of Canada with a capacity of 5,616 MW.The installed capacities of major embankment dams in North America range from 185 MW to 5,616 MW, with the average being 1,683.3 MW.
Reservoir Volume. The largest embankment dam in North America by reservoir volume is Robert-Bourassa Generating Station of Canada, impounding up to 61.70 billion m3 of water.The reservoir volumes of major embankment dams in North America range from 0.03 billion m3 to 61.70 billion m3, with the average being 14.5 billion m3.
Let's check out some of these tallest and largest embankment dams in North America.
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 3rd 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.
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 2nd 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.
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 3rd 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.
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.
Robert-Bourassa Generating Station.
Robert-Bourassa generating station, also known as La Grande-2, is located in Baie-James, Quebec, Canada (North America). The embankment dam was completed in 1981 (41 years old).
Robert-Bourassa Generating Station is the 2nd largest hydroelectric embankment dam in the world by installed capacity. The structural height of Robert-Bourassa generating station is 162 meters. The embankment dam can hold up to 61.70 billion m3 of water and has an installed capacity of 5,616MW.
Compare Robert-Bourassa Generating Station with Zhiguli Hydroelectric Station from Russia.
Compare Robert-Bourassa Generating Station with Mangla Dam from Pakistan.
Completed in 1968, San Luis Dam is a 54-year-old embankment dam. It is also known as B.F. Sisk Dam and is located in Merced County, California, United States (North America).
The installed capacity of San Luis Dam is 424MW. The embankment dam stands 116 meters tall and can impound up to 2.14 billion m3 of water. Its structural volume is 59.37 million m3.
Cochiti Dam is a 47-year-old embankment dam (completed in 1975). It is located in Cochiti Pueblo, Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States (North America).
The structural height of Cochiti Dam is 76.50 meters while its structural volume of 50.20 million m3. The embankment dam can hold up to 0.73 billion m3 of water.
Fort Peck Dam is located in Fort Peck, Montana, United States (North America). The embankment dam was completed in 1940 (82 years old).
The installed capacity of Fort Peck Dam is 185MW. The embankment dam stands 76.40 meters tall and can impound up to 23 billion m3 of water. Its structural volume is 96 million m3.
Completed in 1963, Oahe Dam is a 59-year-old embankment dam. It is located in Hughes/Stanley counties, South Dakota, United States (North America).
The structural height of Oahe Dam is 75 meters while its structural volume of 70.30 million m3. The embankment dam can hold up to 29 billion m3 of water and has an installed capacity of 786MW.
Dams Lists
Largest Dams by Installed Capacity (MW): world | Asia | Europe | North America | South America | USA | Canada | Australia | UK
Tallest Dams: world | Asia | Europe | North America | South America | USA | Canada | Australia | UK
Dams with Largest Structural Volume: world | Asia | Europe | North America | South America | USA | Canada | Australia | UK
Dams with Largest Reservoir Volume: world | Asia | Europe | North America | South America | USA | Canada | Australia | UK
Largest/tallest Dams by Type: Arch Dams | Embankment Dams | Gravity Dams | Arch-Gravity Dams | Buttress Dams