Tallest Dams in Asia

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

Overview

Which are the tallest and largest dams in Asia ?

Tallest Dams. Jinping-I Dam of China is the tallest dam in Asia, 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 Asia range from 37 meters to 305 meters, with the average dam built at around 201.8 meters.

Countries with Most Major Dams. The country with the most major dams in Asia is China.

 Compare Jinping-I Dam with Gezhouba Dam

Dataset Rank & segment full dataset here

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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.

Installed Capacity. Three Gorges Dam of China is the largest dam by installed capacity in Asia, built with a capacty of 22,500 MW.The installed capacities of major dams in Asia range from 100 MW to 22,500 MW, with the average dam installed with a capacity of 3,839.0 MW.

Reservoir Volume. Bakun Dam of Malaysia is the largest dam by reservoir volume in Asia, with a reservoir of 43.80 billion m3.The reservoir volumes of major dams in Asia range from 0.01 billion m3 to 43.80 billion m3, with the average dam impounding up to 9.4 billion m3 of water.

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


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

Jinping-I Dam.

《雅砻江新传》鬼斧神工:“三峡最大 锦屏最难” 那么锦屏水电站是如何完成的呢?(Youtube/CCTV中文国际)

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.

 

 Compare Jinping-I Dam with Mauvoisin Dam from Switzerland.

 Compare Jinping-I Dam with Baihetan Dam from China.


Nurek Dam.

A bird's-eye view on Nurek. Tajikistan - CAREC energy

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.

 

 Compare Nurek Dam with Macagua Dam from Venezuela.

 Compare Nurek Dam with Tarbela Dam from Pakistan.


Xiaowan Dam.

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

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.

 

 Compare Xiaowan Dam with Dagangshan Dam from China.

 Compare Xiaowan Dam with Zimapán Dam from Mexico.


Baihetan Dam.

Aerial view of Baihetan Dam

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.

 

 Compare Baihetan Dam with Almendra Dam from Spain.

 Compare Baihetan Dam with Xiaowan Dam from China.


Xiluodu Dam.

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

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.

 

 Compare Xiluodu Dam with Xiaowan Dam from China.

 Compare Xiluodu Dam with Yusufeli Dam from Turkey.


Nuozhadu Dam.

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

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

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

 

 Compare Nuozhadu Dam with Wyangala Dam from Australia.

 Compare Nuozhadu Dam with Tehri Dam from India.


Tehri Dam.

Top view of Tehri Dam (Youtube/Civil Design)

Located in Uttarakhand, India, Tehri Dam is an embankment dam. It was built in 2006 (16 years since completion).

Tehri Dam is the tallest dam in India. The structural height of Tehri Dam is 260.50 meters. The embankment dam can hold up to 4 billion m3 of water and has an installed capacity of 1,000MW.

 

 Compare Tehri Dam with Chicoasén Dam from Mexico.


Laxiwa Dam.

Laxiwa Dam拉西瓦水电站 (Youtube/Chinese bridge)

Laxiwa Dam is an arch dam located in Guide County, Qinghai, China (Asia). It was completed in 2009 (13 years old).

The structural height of Laxiwa Dam is 250 meters. The arch dam can hold up to 1.08 billion m3 of water and has an installed capacity of 4,200MW.

 

 Compare Laxiwa Dam with Goupitan Dam from China.

 Compare Laxiwa Dam with Zimapán Dam from Mexico.


Changheba Dam.

Changheba Dam in Daduhe River大渡河长河坝水电站 (Youtube/Chinese bridge)

Changheba Dam is a 5-year-old embankment dam (completed in 2017). It is located in Kangding, Sichuan, China (Asia).

The embankment dam has an installed capacity of 2,600MW. Changheba Dam stands 240 meters tall and can impound up to 1.08 billion m3 of water.

 

 Compare Changheba Dam with Rutland Water Dam from United Kingdom.

 Compare Changheba Dam with Fort Peck Dam from United States.


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