Largest Dams in Asia by Reservoir Volume

By  Sam Drake , views , updated
Categories: Urban Asia Pacific
Dataset contains 34 data items (see table below).

Overview

The largest dam in Asia by reservoir volume is Bakun Dam of Malaysia, impounding up to 43.80 billion m3 of water. At second and third, are Three Gorges Dam with a volume of 39.30 billion m3 of water and Longtan Dam at 27.27 billion m3 of water.The reservoir volumes of major dams in Asia range from 0.01 billion m3 to 43.80 billion m3, with the average being 9.4 billion m3.

 Compare Bakun Dam with Goupitan Dam

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The above represents only a partial dataset — click here to rank, query and segment all 34 data items on the full dataset.

Here are the largest dams by reservoir volume in Asia.

Bakun Dam.

Bakun Hydroelectric Plant (HEP) (Youtube/SARAWAK ENERGY Official)

Bakun Dam is an embankment dam located in Sarawak, Malaysia (Asia). It was completed in 2011 (11 years old).

Bakun Dam impounds the largest reservoir volume in Asia. The embankment dam stands at a height of 205 meters and impounds up to 43.80 billion m3 of water. Bakun Dam has an installed capacity of 2,400MW.

 

 Compare Bakun Dam with Cochiti Dam from United States.

 Compare Bakun Dam with Oroville Dam from United States.


Three Gorges Dam.

Amazing aerial view: World's largest shiplift at Three Gorges Dam (credit: Youtube/New China TV)

Three Gorges Dam is located in Sandouping, Yiling District, Hubei, China (Asia). The gravity dam was completed in 2008 (14 years old).

Three Gorges Dam is the largest hydroelectric dam in the world by installed capacity. The installed capacity of Three Gorges Dam is 22,500MW. The gravity dam stands 181 meters tall and can impound up to 39.30 billion m3 of water. Its structural volume is 27.40 million m3.

 

 Compare Three Gorges Dam with Burdekin Dam from Australia.

 Compare Three Gorges Dam with Belo Monte Dam from Brazil.


Longtan Dam.

Longtan Dam龙滩水电站 (Youtube/Chinese bridge)

Completed in 2009, Longtan Dam is a 13-year-old gravity dam. It is located in Tian'e County, Guangxi, China (Asia).

Longtan Dam impounds the 3rd largest reservoir volume in Asia. The gravity dam stands at a height of 216.20 meters and impounds up to 27.27 billion m3 of water. Longtan Dam has a structural volume of 7.67 million m3 and an installed capacity of 6,426MW.

 

 Compare Longtan Dam with Guanyinyan Dam from China.

 Compare Longtan Dam with Hume Dam from Australia.


Nuozhadu Dam.

Nuozhadu Dam糯扎渡水电站 (Youtube/Chinese Bridge)

Nuozhadu Dam is an embankment dam located in Yunnan Province, China (Asia). It was completed in 2012 (10 years old).

Nuozhadu Dam is the largest hydroelectric embankment dam in the world by installed capacity. The embankment dam stands at a height of 261.50 meters and impounds up to 21.75 billion m3 of water. Nuozhadu Dam has an installed capacity of 5,850MW.

 

 Compare Nuozhadu Dam with Fairbairn Dam from Australia.


Toktogul Dam.

Toktogul dam (Youtube/Nice Travel)

Toktogul Dam is located in Toktogul, Kyrgyzstan (Asia). The gravity dam was completed in 1976 (46 years old).

The gravity dam stands at a height of 215 meters and impounds up to 19.50 billion m3 of water. Toktogul Dam has an installed capacity of 1,200MW.

 

 Compare Toktogul Dam with Tucuruí Dam from Brazil.

 Compare Toktogul Dam with Longtan Dam from China.


Baihetan Dam.

Aerial view of Baihetan Dam

Baihetan Dam is located in Sichuan province, China (Asia). The arch dam was completed in 2021 (1 years old).

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.

 

 Compare Baihetan Dam with New Bullards Bar Dam from United States.

 Compare Baihetan Dam with Zimapán Dam from Mexico.


Xiaowan Dam.

The Tallest Arch Dam in The World(2010-2013)航拍小湾电站 (credit: Youtube/Chinese Bridge)

Xiaowan Dam is a 12-year-old arch dam (completed in 2010). It is located in Nanjian County, Yunnan Province, China (Asia).

Xiaowan Dam is the 3rd tallest dam in the world. The structural height of Xiaowan Dam is 292 meters. The arch dam can hold up to 15 billion m3 of water and has an installed capacity of 4,200MW.

 

 Compare Xiaowan Dam with Laxiwa Dam from China.

 Compare Xiaowan Dam with Ertan Dam from China.


Tarbela Dam.

Tarbela Dam Aerial View (credit: Youtube/Mountains Spot)

Tarbela Dam is a 46-year-old embankment dam (completed in 1976). It is located in Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan (Asia).

The embankment dam stands at a height of 143 meters and impounds up to 13.70 billion m3 of water. Tarbela Dam has a structural volume of 153 million m3 and an installed capacity of 4,888MW.

 

 Compare Tarbela Dam with Lake Echo Dam from Australia.

 Compare Tarbela Dam with Robert-Bourassa Generating Station from Canada.


Xiluodu Dam.

China's 2nd-largest Hydropower Station Wins Global Recognition (credit: Youtube/ CCTV Video News Agency)

Xiluodu Dam is located in Sichuan province, China (Asia). The arch dam was completed in 2013 (9 years old).

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.

 

 Compare Xiluodu Dam with El Cajón Dam from Honduras.

 Compare Xiluodu Dam with Deriner Dam from Turkey.


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

Attributions