The Most Gigantic Dams in the World

Dams are an important part of our everyday lives, whether we know it or not. They provide us with many crucial services such as flood control, hydroelectric power generation, water supply management and irrigation, so if you ever find yourself thinking about the massive dams in the world, here’s what you should know about them: which ones exist and how big they are?

Kariba Dam

Situated on the Zambezi River, Kariba Dam is the world's biggest dam by volume. In 1959, this steel and concrete monstrosity was opened to bring electricity to Zambia and Zimbabwe. The dam cost a whopping $320 million (in 1959 dollars) and at 370 meters high, it can hold back three times as much water as Hoover Dam - 6 trillion gallons of water total. Along with huge turbines that generate up to 350 megawatts of electricity - enough for more than 5 million homes!

Three Gorges Dam

The largest dam of all time was constructed across China's Yangtze River, creating the world's largest hydroelectric power station. Called Three Gorges Dam, it stands 1,088 feet tall and runs more than two miles wide. It has a lock chamber large enough to accommodate ships that weigh up to 3,000 tons and at full capacity it can generate 22.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually for about 400 million people in China and Vietnam.

Grand Coulee Dam

When it was completed, Grand Coulee Dam was the largest earth-filled dam in the world. It is created a reservoir called Lake Roosevelt, which is fed by both Columbia River and Franklin Creek. The hydroelectric power station has 18 turbines that can generate up to 2.6 million kilowatts of power with an average output of 410 megawatts.

Aswan High Dam

Construction on Egypt's Aswan High Dam began in 1960 and was completed just two years later. The dam is 2,000 feet long and 800 feet wide, and stands at 756 feet tall. To date, it is the world's tallest dam. When completed, it created a 185-mile-long reservoir which flooded nearly 1,500 square miles of land. The flooding resulted in displaced people fleeing their homes and over 10 million acres of agricultural land becoming unusable because they were submerged under water.

Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant

Located along the border of Brazil and Paraguay, Itaipu is the world's largest hydroelectric dam. It was constructed jointly by Brazilian and Paraguayian companies between 1974 and 1984 to meet both countries' growing demand for electricity. 

Itaipu has an installed capacity of 14 GW, provides about 90% of all power used by Paraguay and about 17% of all Brazil's power. The plant produces 87 TWh annually which is around 2% of total global generation capacity.

Sayano-Shushenskaya Hydro Power Plant

Located on the Yenisei River between Russia and Mongolia, Sayano-Shushenskaya is one of the largest hydroelectric power plants in world. At 600 meters tall, it generates 12 billion kilowatt hours of electricity each year.

Grand Egout Central

Constructed in 1921, The Grand Égout Central is an enormous underground complex that can hold around 8 billion cubic meters of sewage water. This isn't just a dam - it also incorporates a pumping station and enough power to service 80,000 households. It's thought to be one of the most-visited man-made attractions in France.

Jinping-I Dam

Built by China for flood control, the Jinping-I Dam holds back 175 billion cubic meters of water. It’s 356 feet high, 541 feet long, and 1,611 feet wide.

Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Generating Station, Queenston–Chippawa Hydroelectric Power Station and Niagara Falls Hydropower Complex

In Canada, Queenston-Chippawa Hydroelectric Power Station, Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Generating Station and Niagara Falls Hydropower Complex are the three biggest dams. Canada is home to the second largest generating capacity in North America which is around 12 GW. The Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Generating Station is over seventy years old but still produces power for Ontario’s energy grid.

Robert-Bourassa Hydroelectric Station

Standing at over 800 feet, the Robert-Bourassa Hydroelectric Station is Canada's largest hydroelectric plant. Located in southwestern Quebec, it provides electricity to nearby major industrial centers. The station contains a 975 foot long dam with 12 generating units producing nearly 4,700 megawatts of power for Ontario and New York City. In 2011 this Hydroelectric Station was named one of the Seven Wonders of Canada.