Dams are big civil engineering constructions that help to control the flow of water, produce hydroelectricity, and provide flood protection. Big dams around the world can be defined as those which are categorised based on several different criteria, such as installed capacity for hydropower production, reservoir capacity, and size of construction, among others.As per the worldwide databases available with institutions like the International Commission on Large Dams and national hydropower corporations, these dams are some of the largest man-made structures ever built.These dams are distributed around the globe and play an important role in energy production and water management. Following is a list of the top ten largest dams in the world based mainly on their installed hydropower generation capacity.
The biggest dams in the world and what makes them unique
These dams are some of the biggest dams ever built, used primarily to generate hydropower, control floods, and store water. Because of their huge size, these dams can provide electricity to many people while controlling rivers and contributing to farming activities.
Three Gorges Dam , China (22,500 MW)
The Three Gorges Dam, located on the Yangtze River, is the largest hydroelectric power station in the world in terms of the size of its generating capacity. This project is important for the production of electricity, preventing flooding and the passage of ships through the river. This project is very important for China’s energy policy.
Baihetan Dam , China (16,000 MW)
The Baihetan Dam is one of the latest hydropower plants in China that can be found on the Jinsha River. This plant is considered to be one of the largest hydropower plants in the world due to the use of modern turbines in power generation. It is a member of a cascade system on this river.
Itaipu Dam, Brazil (14,000 MW)
Itaipu Dam is considered to be one of the largest hydroelectric dams in the world because it provides a record production of electricity. Being situated on the Paraná River, the dam covers the need for energy resources in Paraguay and also helps Brazil to have energy independence.
Xiluodu Dam, China (13,860 MW)
Xiluodu Dam is an important hydropower plant in China since it provides a large amount of power generation. Besides generating electricity, this plant regulates the water flow on the Jinsha River.
Belo Monte Dam, Brazil (11,233 MW)
Being situated on the Xingu River, Belo Monte Dam is the largest dam in South America. Despite high installed capacity, actual generation of electricity differs according to seasonal water levels.
Guri Dam, Venezuela (10,235 MW)
Known by the name of the Simon Bolivar Dam, the Guri Dam is among the biggest hydroelectric dams. This dam generates a huge amount of electricity for Venezuela and has one of the largest reservoirs in the world.
Tucuruí Dam, Brazil (8,370 MW)
The Tucuruí Dam on the Tocantins River is one of the major dams in Brazil that is used to generate electricity. It is also vital for the economic development of many industries and provides electrical power to many areas.
Grand Coulee Dam, USA (6,809 MW)
Grand Coulee Dam is among the biggest structures in America. This dam on the Columbia River serves several purposes, such as hydroelectric power production, flood control, and irrigation.
Xiangjiaba Dam, China (6,448 MW)
Xiangjiaba Dam is another notable hydropower plant located on the Jinsha River. The Xiangjiaba Dam is an essential component of China’s electricity generation and distribution system, and it works with other dams in optimizing their performance.
Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam, Russia (6,400 MW)
The Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam can be found in the Yenisei River and is the biggest power plant in Russia. The importance of the plant is reflected by the amount of electricity it produces, which is vital for the industrial regions in the area.
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