Introduction: Dam is a structure built a river in order to restrain or use of water. A large number of dams have been constructed in the world. The first ten highest dams in the world have been given in the table.
Nurek Dam - Vakhsh River - Tajikistan - 317m height
Grand Dixence Dam - Dixence River - Switzerland - 285m height
Vajont Dam - Vajont River - Italy - 262m height
Oroville Dam - Feather River - California ( U. S. A. ) - 235m height
Bhakra Dam - Nangal Dam - Satluj River - India - 226m height
Hoover Dam - Colorado River - U. S. A. - 221m height
Kurobegwa Dam - Kurobe River - Japan - 186m height
Cahora - Bassa Dam - Zembezi River - Zimbabwe - 171m height
Akosombo Dam - Volta River - Ghana - 141m height
Warragamba Dam - Warragamba river - Australia - 137m height
1. Nurek Dam (Tajikistan):
It is an earth filled dam on Vakhsh River in the central Asian republic of Tajikistan. Having a height of 317 m, it is the tallest dam in the world.. Construction on this dam was started in 1961 and completed in 1980.
2. The Grande Dixence Dam (Switzerland):
It is a concrete gravity dam on the Dixence River in Switzerland. Having a height of 285 m, it is the tallest gravity dam in the world. The basic objective of the dam is to produce hydro electricity with a capacity of 2069 MW, enough for 400,000 households. The construction of the dam was started in 1950 while the dam was commissioned in 1965.
3. The Vajont Dam, or Vaiont Dam (Italy):
Constructed across the Vajont River, about 100 km to the north of Venice in Italy, it is the third highest dam in the world. It was responsible for the deaths of approximately 2000 people in the 1963 landslide. It is 262m high, 27m thick at the base and 3.4 m at the top.
4. Oroville Dam (California, U.S.A.):
It has been constructed across the Feather River above the city of Oroville, California, United States. It generates electricity and provides drinking and irrigation water for central and southern California.
5. Bhakra Nangal Dam (Punjab-India):
It is a concrete gravity dam across the Satluj River, near the border between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh in Northern India. It is a joint venture of the Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan governments. The dam located in the village of Bhakra in the Bilaspur region of Himachal Pradesh, is one of the highest dams in Asia. Its height is 226m. The length of the dam is 518 m and width at the top 9m. The dam attracts tourists from all over India throughout the year.
6. Hoover Dam-Boulder Dam (U.S.A.):
It is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River on the border of Arizona and Nevada states of U.S.A. When completed in 1935, it was both the world’s largest hydroelectric power generating station and the world’s largest concrete structure. It has been named after President Herbert Hoover, who played a vital role in its construction. Lake Mead is the reservoir created by the dam, named after Elwood Mead, who supervised the . construction of the dam.
7. The Kurobe Dam (Japan):
Constructed across the Kurobe River (Honshu Island), it is the largest dam of Japan. It is 186 m in height. Its construction was completed in 1963. It generates electricity for Kansai Electric Power Company.
8. The Cahora Bassa (Zimbabwe):
Constructed across the Zembizi River, it is one of the largest dams in Africa. Its height is 171 m. It is one of the three major dams on the Zambezi River, the others being Kariba and Itezhi Tezhi. The project was commissioned in 1969. The lake (reservoir) has a maximum length and width of approximately 250 km and 38 km, respectively. The installed capacity of the project is 2075 MW.
9. The Akosombo Dam (Ghana):
It is hydroelectricity dam in southern Ghana across the Volta River. The primary purpose of the Akosombo Dam was to provide electricity for the aluminium industry. The flooding to create the lake Volta Reservoir, displaced many people and had a significant impact on the environment of the region.
10. Warragamba Dam (Australia):
It is the primary water source for the Australian city of Sydney. It is approximately 65 km to the west of Sydney on the Warragamba River, a tributary of the Hawkesbury River.
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