The world’s largest dams, also known as reservoirs or embankments, play a crucial role in water storage, flood prevention, irrigation, and hydroelectric power generation. Here are some of the largest dams in the world based on their storage capacity:
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Three Gorges Dam (China): Located on the Yangtze River, it is the world’s largest power station in terms of installed capacity (22,500 MW) and the largest dam by volume. It provides hydroelectric power, flood control, and navigation.
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Itaipu Dam (Brazil/Paraguay): Located on the Paraná River, it is the second-largest dam in terms of electricity generation capacity (14,000 MW) and is a key source of renewable energy for both Brazil and Paraguay.
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Xiluodu Dam (China): Situated on the Jinsha River, it is the third-largest dam in the world and the second-largest in China. It has a generating capacity of 13,860 MW and serves multiple purposes including power generation and flood control.
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Guri Dam (Venezuela): Located on the Caroni River, it is the fourth-largest dam in the world by reservoir capacity. It plays a vital role in Venezuela’s electricity supply, providing about 70% of the country’s power.
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Tucuruí Dam (Brazil): Situated on the Tocantins River, it is the fifth-largest dam in the world by reservoir capacity and the second-largest in Brazil. It has a generating capacity of 8,370 MW and primarily serves as a hydroelectric power station.
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Grand Coulee Dam (USA): Located on the Columbia River in Washington state, it is the largest dam in the United States in terms of concrete volume and the largest producer of hydroelectric power in the country.
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Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam (Russia): Situated on the Yenisei River, it is the largest power plant in Russia and the ninth-largest in the world in terms of installed capacity (6,400 MW). It primarily serves as a hydroelectric power station.
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Bratsk Dam (Russia): Located on the Angara River, it is one of the world’s largest hydroelectric power stations, with a generating capacity of 4,515 MW. It serves as a key power source for the Siberian region of Russia.
These dams represent some of the largest and most impactful engineering projects in the world, providing vital services such as electricity generation, flood control, and water supply to millions of people.
More Informations
Certainly! Here’s some more detailed information about each of the dams:
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Three Gorges Dam (China):
- Location: Yangtze River, Hubei Province, China
- Capacity: 22,500 MW
- Purpose: Hydroelectric power generation, flood control, navigation improvement
- Construction Period: 1994-2006
- Key Features: It is the world’s largest power station in terms of installed capacity. The dam has 32 main turbines and two smaller generators, with a total capacity of 22,500 MW. It has helped to reduce the risk of floods downstream and has improved navigation on the Yangtze River.
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Itaipu Dam (Brazil/Paraguay):
- Location: Paraná River, on the border between Brazil and Paraguay
- Capacity: 14,000 MW
- Purpose: Hydroelectric power generation
- Construction Period: 1975-1984
- Key Features: It is one of the largest dams in the world in terms of electricity generation capacity. Itaipu Dam provides about 75% of Paraguay’s electricity needs and about 15% of Brazil’s. The dam’s reservoir extends for about 170 kilometers (106 miles).
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Xiluodu Dam (China):
- Location: Jinsha River, Yunnan Province, China
- Capacity: 13,860 MW
- Purpose: Hydroelectric power generation, flood control
- Construction Period: 2005-2013
- Key Features: Xiluodu Dam is the second-largest hydropower station in China after the Three Gorges Dam. It has 18 generating units, each with a capacity of 770 MW. The dam helps to regulate water flow on the Jinsha River and provides clean energy to the region.
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Guri Dam (Venezuela):
- Location: Caroni River, Bolívar State, Venezuela
- Capacity: 10,235 MW
- Purpose: Hydroelectric power generation
- Construction Period: 1963-1986
- Key Features: Guri Dam, also known as the Simón Bolívar Hydroelectric Plant, is a key component of Venezuela’s electricity infrastructure. It provides about 70% of the country’s electricity and plays a crucial role in supporting Venezuela’s industrial and domestic energy needs.
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Tucuruí Dam (Brazil):
- Location: Tocantins River, Pará State, Brazil
- Capacity: 8,370 MW
- Purpose: Hydroelectric power generation
- Construction Period: 1975-1984
- Key Features: Tucuruí Dam is one of the largest dams in Brazil and serves as a major source of hydroelectric power for the country. It has helped to spur economic development in the region and provides electricity to millions of people in Brazil.
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Grand Coulee Dam (USA):
- Location: Columbia River, Washington State, USA
- Capacity: 6,809 MW
- Purpose: Hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, flood control
- Construction Period: 1933-1942
- Key Features: Grand Coulee Dam is one of the largest concrete structures in the world and is a key part of the Columbia Basin Project, which provides irrigation water to over 670,000 acres of farmland in Washington State. It is also a major source of hydroelectric power for the region.
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Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam (Russia):
- Location: Yenisei River, Khakassia Republic, Russia
- Capacity: 6,400 MW
- Purpose: Hydroelectric power generation
- Construction Period: 1963-1978
- Key Features: Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam is the largest power plant in Russia and the ninth-largest in the world in terms of installed capacity. It suffered a major accident in 2009 when a turbine hall collapsed, causing several fatalities and extensive damage to the facility.
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Bratsk Dam (Russia):
- Location: Angara River, Irkutsk Oblast, Russia
- Capacity: 4,515 MW
- Purpose: Hydroelectric power generation
- Construction Period: 1954-1967
- Key Features: Bratsk Dam is one of the largest hydroelectric power stations in Russia. It has 18 generating units and plays a crucial role in providing electricity to the Siberian region of Russia.