A dam is a man-made structure built across a river. Most dams are built to control river flow, improve navigation, and regulate flooding. However, some dams are built to produce hydroelectric power. Dams all over the world have hurt some species. The highest dam in the world is Rogun Dam. Here is a top 10 highest dams list. The sight of a dam one of the largest and most complex structures that humanity has ever created can be quite breath taking.

Rogun Dam:- The highest dam ever built is the Rogun Dam, across the River Vakhsh in the southern part of Tajikstan. There were intial problems in building this dam and the project was shelved temporarily. However later on a partnership was formed with Russia in order to complete the project, accomplished in 1990. This dam is 335 meters high, making it the highest dam in the world today.
Nurek Dam:- This Dam stands next to rogun Dam on Vakhsh river in height. The Dam located in central Asia this is the world’s largest rock fill dam and is the second highest dam in the world as well. It was constructed between 1961 and 1980. Nurek Dam has 9 units generating hydroelectric power. These units were installed between 1972 and 1979.
Grand Dixence (Switzerland):- Grand Dixence is the third highest dam in the world with 285 meters height. Built to hold back Lac Des Dix in Switzerland, it is 4 kilometers long and it holds 400 million cubic meters of water. Though the river Dixence is one of the smaller rivers in the area, water collects here in large quantities due to tunnels which bring in water from other sources. It is also the highest Dam in Europe.
Inguri (Georgia):- Inguri is amongst the highest dams in the world with a height of 272 meters. It is a hydroelectric dam located in Georgia. The Inguri power station is located in Abkhazia where the dam is built on the Inguri River. Construction of this dam began in 1961 however it was completed only in 1987. There are five generators at the Inguri Power Station.
Chicoasen (Mexico):- It is located about 40 km from Tuxtle, capital of the Mexican state of Chiapas. It is also known as Sumidero Canyon and canyon is regarded as an important tourist attraction in the state of Chiapas. The chicoasen is the home to a great variety of wildlife including corocodiles. It is the 5th largest dam in the world with a height of 261 meters.
Tehri Dam (India):- The Dam was constructed amidst the ensuing chaos of opposition. Tehri dam was built close to the town of Garhwal, India, in order to trap the water from the basin of the uppen Ganga, at the Bhilanganga and Bhagirathi confluence. The height of the dam is about 260 meters and it is the 6th highest dam in the world.
Xiaowan Dam:- It is seventh highest dam in the world with a height of 258 meters. It is also going to be the world’s 4th largest Dam in terms of hydroelectric power. Construction on the Xiaowan Dam was started in January of 2002, and continues today. This hydroelectric arch Dam, on the River Lancany in South West China. Each power-generating units will have a 700 MW capacity.
Eratan Dam (China):- The Eratan Dam is a largest Dam on the Yalong River in Southwest China. The total electricity generation capacity of the facility is 3,300 MW, one of the largest hydroelectric stations in China. The dam has six hydroelectric generators, each with a generating capacity of 550 MW. Construction of the Dam started on September 1991 and was completed on December 26, 1999. Ertan Dam is 245 meters in height with huge water capacity.
Sayano-Shushensk Dam:- It is the largest power plant in Russia and the ninth highest Dam in the world having 245 meters height. It is located on the Yenisei River near Sayanogorsk. It is also the sixth-largest hydroelectric plant in the world. The head of the power plant is Valery Kyari. It is by far the larger of only two gravity-arch dams in Russia. The Dam is constructed to “Safely” withstand earthquakes up to 8 on Richter scale, and was recorded by the Guinnes Book of world records as the strongest construction of its type.
Alvaro Obregon Dam:- Construction for the Alvaro Obregon Dam took five years to complete, beginning in 1947. The largest Dam in the state, it is built on the river Yaqui. It is also the 10th highest Dam having 244 meters height. Not only is it important for local irrigation and hydraulic works, it is also a tourist attraction because of the beauty of the surrounding scenery.

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May 18, 2010 | G Abbas | 3 Comments | 937 views