Largest Dams and Tallest Dams in the World
Overview
Which are the tallest and largest dams in the world ?
Tallest Dams. Jinping-I Dam of China is the tallest dam in the world, built at a height of 305 meters. At second and third, are Nurek Dam at a height of 300 meters and Xiaowan Dam at 292 meters.The heights of the major dams in the world range from 13 meters to 305 meters, with the average dam built at around 152.5 meters.
Countries with Most Major Dams. The country with the most major dams in the world is China.
Regions with Most Major Dams. The region with the most major dams in the world is Asia.
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Installed Capacity. Three Gorges Dam of China is the largest dam by installed capacity in the world, built with a capacty of 22,500 MW.The installed capacities of major dams in the world range from 3 MW to 22,500 MW, with the average dam installed with a capacity of 2,489.1 MW.
Reservoir Volume. The largest dam in the world by reservoir volume is Bratsk Hydroelectric Power Station of Russia, impounding up to 169.27 billion m3 of water.The reservoir volumes of major dams in the world range from 0.01 billion m3 to 169.27 billion m3, with the average being 14.0 billion m3.
Dam Types. The most common dam type among the major dams in the world is the embankment dam.
Let's check out some of these tallest and largest dams in the world.
Jinping-I Dam is an arch dam located in Sichuan, China (Asia). It was completed in 2014 (8 years old).
Jinping-I Dam is the tallest dam in the world. The arch dam stands at a height of 305 meters and impounds up to 7.76 billion m3 of water. Jinping-I Dam has a structural volume of 7.40 million m3 and an installed capacity of 3,600MW.
Nurek Dam is a 42-year-old embankment dam (completed in 1980). It is located in Nurek, Khatlon region, Tajikistan (Asia).
Nurek Dam is the 2nd tallest dam in the world. The installed capacity of Nurek Dam is 3,015MW. The embankment dam stands 300 meters tall and can impound up to 10.50 billion m3 of water. Its structural volume is 54 million m3.
Located in Nanjian County, Yunnan Province, China, Xiaowan Dam is an arch dam. It was built in 2010 (12 years since completion).
Xiaowan Dam is the 3rd tallest dam in the world. The arch dam has an installed capacity of 4,200MW. Xiaowan Dam stands 292 meters tall and can impound up to 15 billion m3 of water.
Baihetan Dam is a 1-year-old arch dam (completed in 2021). It is located in Sichuan province, China (Asia).
Baihetan Dam is the largest arch dam in the world by reservoir volume. The arch dam has an installed capacity of 4,000MW. Baihetan Dam stands 289 meters tall and can impound up to 17.90 billion m3 of water.
Xiluodu Dam is a 9-year-old arch dam (completed in 2013). It is located in Sichuan province, China (Asia).
Xiluodu Dam is the 3rd largest hydroelectric dam in the world by installed capacity. The arch dam has an installed capacity of 13,860MW. Xiluodu Dam stands 285.50 meters tall and can impound up to 12.67 billion m3 of water.
Located in Hérémence, Switzerland, Grande Dixence Dam is a gravity dam. It was built in 1961 (61 years since completion).
Grande Dixence Dam is the tallest gravity dam in the world. The structural height of Grande Dixence Dam is 285 meters while its structural volume of 6 million m3. The gravity dam can hold up to 0.40 billion m3 of water and has an installed capacity of 2,069MW.
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