List of largest dams
Updated: 5/20/2026, 7:02:45 PM Wikipedia source
The following table lists the largest man-made dams by volume of fill/structure. A dam is generally defined as a barrier that impounds water or underground flows, so tailings dams are relegated to a separate list. Data on volume of structure is not as readily available or reliable as data on dam height and reservoir volume. Type: TE - Earth; ER - Rock-fill; PG - Concrete gravity; CFRD - Concrete face rockfill
Tables
Tarbela Dam
Tarbela Dam
Rank
1
Name
Tarbela Dam
Country
Pakistan
Year
completed
1976
Structure
volume
(106 m3)
153
Structure
height
(m)
143
Reservoir
volume
(109 m3)
13
Installed
capacity
(MW)
4,888
Type
TE/ER
Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
Rank
2
Name
Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
Country
Ethiopia
Year
completed
2023
Structure
volume
(106 m3)
130 (est.)
Structure
height
(m)
155
Reservoir
volume
(109 m3)
74
Installed
capacity
(MW)
5,150 (full)
Type
CFRD
Fort Peck Dam
Fort Peck Dam
Rank
3
Name
Fort Peck Dam
Country
United States
Year
completed
1940
Structure
volume
(106 m3)
96
Structure
height
(m)
76
Reservoir
volume
(109 m3)
23
Installed
capacity
(MW)
185
Type
TE
Atatürk Dam
Atatürk Dam
Rank
4
Name
Atatürk Dam
Country
Turkey
Year
completed
1990
Structure
volume
(106 m3)
84
Structure
height
(m)
166
Reservoir
volume
(109 m3)
48
Installed
capacity
(MW)
2,400
Type
TE/ER
Houtribdijk
Houtribdijk
Rank
5
Name
Houtribdijk
Country
Netherlands
Year
completed
1968
Structure
volume
(106 m3)
78
Structure
height
(m)
13
Reservoir
volume
(109 m3)
2
Installed
capacity
(MW)
0
Type
TE/ER
Oahe Dam
Oahe Dam
Rank
6
Name
Oahe Dam
Country
United States
Year
completed
1963
Structure
volume
(106 m3)
70
Structure
height
(m)
75
Reservoir
volume
(109 m3)
29
Installed
capacity
(MW)
786
Type
TE/ER
Mangla Dam
Mangla Dam
Rank
7
Name
Mangla Dam
Country
Pakistan
Year
completed
1967
Structure
volume
(106 m3)
65
Structure
height
(m)
147
Reservoir
volume
(109 m3)
9
Installed
capacity
(MW)
1,000
Type
TE/ER
Gardiner Dam
Gardiner Dam
Rank
8
Name
Gardiner Dam
Country
Canada
Year
completed
1967
Structure
volume
(106 m3)
65
Structure
height
(m)
64
Reservoir
volume
(109 m3)
9
Installed
capacity
(MW)
186
Type
TE
Oroville Dam
Oroville Dam
Rank
9
Name
Oroville Dam
Country
United States
Year
completed
1968
Structure
volume
(106 m3)
59
Structure
height
(m)
230
Reservoir
volume
(109 m3)
4
Installed
capacity
(MW)
819
Type
TE/ER
San Luis Dam (BF Sisk Dam)
San Luis Dam (BF Sisk Dam)
Rank
10
Name
San Luis Dam (BF Sisk Dam)
Country
United States
Year
completed
1967
Structure
volume
(106 m3)
59
Structure
height
(m)
93
Reservoir
volume
(109 m3)
2
Installed
capacity
(MW)
424
Type
TE
Nurek Dam
Nurek Dam
Rank
11
Name
Nurek Dam
Country
Tajikistan
Year
completed
1980
Structure
volume
(106 m3)
54
Structure
height
(m)
300
Reservoir
volume
(109 m3)
10
Installed
capacity
(MW)
3,200
Type
TE
Samara Dam
Samara Dam
Rank
12
Name
Samara Dam
Country
Russia
Year
completed
1955
Structure
volume
(106 m3)
54
Structure
height
(m)
52
Reservoir
volume
(109 m3)
57
Installed
capacity
(MW)
2,315
Type
TE/ER
Garrison Dam
Garrison Dam
Rank
13
Name
Garrison Dam
Country
United States
Year
completed
1954
Structure
volume
(106 m3)
50
Structure
height
(m)
64
Reservoir
volume
(109 m3)
29
Installed
capacity
(MW)
583
Type
TE
Cochiti Dam
Cochiti Dam
Rank
14
Name
Cochiti Dam
Country
United States
Year
completed
1975
Structure
volume
(106 m3)
50
Structure
height
(m)
76
Reservoir
volume
(109 m3)
0
Installed
capacity
(MW)
NA
Type
TE
Aswan Dam
Aswan Dam
Rank
15
Name
Aswan Dam
Country
Egypt
Year
completed
1970
Structure
volume
(106 m3)
44
Structure
height
(m)
111
Reservoir
volume
(109 m3)
169
Installed
capacity
(MW)
2,100
Type
TE/ER
W. A. C. Bennett Dam
W. A. C. Bennett Dam
Rank
16
Name
W. A. C. Bennett Dam
Country
Canada
Year
completed
1968
Structure
volume
(106 m3)
43
Structure
height
(m)
186
Reservoir
volume
(109 m3)
7
Installed
capacity
(MW)
2,876
Type
TE
San Roque Dam
San Roque Dam
Rank
17
Name
San Roque Dam
Country
Philippines
Year
completed
2003
Structure
volume
(106 m3)
40
Structure
height
(m)
200
Reservoir
volume
(109 m3)
0
Installed
capacity
(MW)
345
Type
CFRD
Fort Randall Dam
Fort Randall Dam
Rank
18
Name
Fort Randall Dam
Country
United States
Year
completed
1953
Structure
volume
(106 m3)
38
Structure
height
(m)
50
Reservoir
volume
(109 m3)
6
Installed
capacity
(MW)
320
Type
TE/ER
Afsluitdijk
Afsluitdijk
Rank
19
Name
Afsluitdijk
Country
Netherlands
Year
completed
1932
Structure
volume
(106 m3)
36
Structure
height
(m)
13
Reservoir
volume
(109 m3)
5
Installed
capacity
(MW)
0
Type
TE/ER
Guri Dam
Guri Dam
Rank
20
Name
Guri Dam
Country
Venezuela
Year
completed
1978
Structure
volume
(106 m3)
29
Structure
height
(m)
162
Reservoir
volume
(109 m3)
135
Installed
capacity
(MW)
10,235
Type
PG/ER
Three Gorges Dam
Three Gorges Dam
Rank
21
Name
Three Gorges Dam
Country
China
Year
completed
2008
Structure
volume
(106 m3)
27
Structure
height
(m)
181
Reservoir
volume
(109 m3)
39
Installed
capacity
(MW)
22,500
Type
PG
Belo Monte Dam
Belo Monte Dam
Rank
22
Name
Belo Monte Dam
Country
Brazil
Year
completed
2016
Structure
volume
(106 m3)
25
Structure
height
(m)
90
Reservoir
volume
(109 m3)
1
Installed
capacity
(MW)
11,233
Type
PG/ER
Itaipu Dam
Itaipu Dam
Rank
23
Name
Itaipu Dam
Country
Brazil
Paraguay
Year
completed
1984
Structure
volume
(106 m3)
12
Structure
height
(m)
196
Reservoir
volume
(109 m3)
29
Installed
capacity
(MW)
14,000
Type
PG
Grand Coulee Dam
Grand Coulee Dam
Rank
24
Name
Grand Coulee Dam
Country
United States
Year
completed
1942
Structure
volume
(106 m3)
9
Structure
height
(m)
168
Reservoir
volume
(109 m3)
12
Installed
capacity
(MW)
6,809
Type
PG
| Rank | Name | Country | Year completed | Structure volume (106 m3) | Structure height (m) | Reservoir volume (109 m3) | Installed capacity (MW) | Type |
| 1 | Tarbela Dam | Pakistan | 1976 | 153 | 143 | 13 | 4,888 | TE/ER |
| 2 | Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam | Ethiopia | 2023 | 130 (est.) | 155 | 74 | 5,150 (full) | CFRD |
| 3 | Fort Peck Dam | United States | 1940 | 96 | 76 | 23 | 185 | TE |
| 4 | Atatürk Dam | Turkey | 1990 | 84 | 166 | 48 | 2,400 | TE/ER |
| 5 | Houtribdijk | Netherlands | 1968 | 78 | 13 | 2 | 0 | TE/ER |
| 6 | Oahe Dam | United States | 1963 | 70 | 75 | 29 | 786 | TE/ER |
| 7 | Mangla Dam | Pakistan | 1967 | 65 | 147 | 9 | 1,000 | TE/ER |
| 8 | Gardiner Dam | Canada | 1967 | 65 | 64 | 9 | 186 | TE |
| 9 | Oroville Dam | United States | 1968 | 59 | 230 | 4 | 819 | TE/ER |
| 10 | San Luis Dam (BF Sisk Dam) | United States | 1967 | 59 | 93 | 2 | 424 | TE |
| 11 | Nurek Dam | Tajikistan | 1980 | 54 | 300 | 10 | 3,200 | TE |
| 12 | Samara Dam | Russia | 1955 | 54 | 52 | 57 | 2,315 | TE/ER |
| 13 | Garrison Dam | United States | 1954 | 50 | 64 | 29 | 583 | TE |
| 14 | Cochiti Dam | United States | 1975 | 50 | 76 | 0 | NA | TE |
| 15 | Aswan Dam | Egypt | 1970 | 44 | 111 | 169 | 2,100 | TE/ER |
| 16 | W. A. C. Bennett Dam | Canada | 1968 | 43 | 186 | 7 | 2,876 | TE |
| 17 | San Roque Dam | Philippines | 2003 | 40 | 200 | 0 | 345 | CFRD |
| 18 | Fort Randall Dam | United States | 1953 | 38 | 50 | 6 | 320 | TE/ER |
| 19 | Afsluitdijk | Netherlands | 1932 | 36 | 13 | 5 | 0 | TE/ER |
| 20 | Guri Dam | Venezuela | 1978 | 29 | 162 | 135 | 10,235 | PG/ER |
| 21 | Three Gorges Dam | China | 2008 | 27 | 181 | 39 | 22,500 | PG |
| 22 | Belo Monte Dam | Brazil | 2016 | 25 | 90 | 1 | 11,233 | PG/ER |
| 23 | Itaipu Dam | Brazil Paraguay | 1984 | 12 | 196 | 29 | 14,000 | PG |
| 24 | Grand Coulee Dam | United States | 1942 | 9 | 168 | 12 | 6,809 | PG |
· List of largest tailings dams
Syncrude Tailings Dam Mildred MLSB
Syncrude Tailings Dam Mildred MLSB
Rank
1
Name
Syncrude Tailings Dam Mildred MLSB
Country
Canada
Year completed
1995
Structure volume [106 m3]
540/720
Structure height [m]
88
Reservoir volume [109 m3]
0
Installed capacity [MW]
NA
Type
TE
Syncrude Tailings Dam West Sand Storage (SWSS)
Syncrude Tailings Dam West Sand Storage (SWSS)
Rank
2
Name
Syncrude Tailings Dam West Sand Storage (SWSS)
Country
Canada
Year completed
2010
Structure volume [106 m3]
119
Structure height [m]
40–50
Reservoir volume [109 m3]
0
Installed capacity [MW]
NA
Type
TE
ASARCO Mission Mine Tailings Dam
ASARCO Mission Mine Tailings Dam
Rank
3
Name
ASARCO Mission Mine Tailings Dam
Country
United States
Year completed
1972
Structure volume [106 m3]
40
Structure height [m]
30
Reservoir volume [109 m3]
0
Installed capacity [MW]
NA
Type
ER
| Rank | Name | Country | Year completed | Structure volume [106 m3] | Structure height [m] | Reservoir volume [109 m3] | Installed capacity [MW] | Type |
| 1 | Syncrude Tailings Dam Mildred MLSB | Canada | 1995 | 540/720 | 88 | 0 | NA | TE |
| 2 | Syncrude Tailings Dam West Sand Storage (SWSS) | Canada | 2010 | 119 | 40–50 | 0 | NA | TE |
| 3 | ASARCO Mission Mine Tailings Dam | United States | 1972 | 40 | 30 | 0 | NA | ER |
References
- "Tarbela Dam Project"https://web.archive.org/web/20150725152006/http://www.wapda.gov.pk/pdf/terbeladam.pdf
- "Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) – Key Facts"https://www.ethiopianreporter.com/74489/
- "Archived copy"https://www.nwd-mr.usace.army.mil/rcc/projdata/summaryengdat.pdf
- "Archived copy"https://web.archive.org/web/20110818154220/http://ipac.kacst.edu.sa/eDoc/2006/157250_1.pdf
- Estimate based on height, dimensions from Google Earth and, where available, cross section. Accuracy ±15%
- 700 km2 × 3 m
- "South Saskatchewan River Project|Fact Sheet"https://web.archive.org/web/20110706204127/http://www.swa.ca/Publications/Documents/FS-308.pdf
- "Embankment dams | Structurae"http://en.structurae.de/structures/stype/index.cfm?id=1073
- "San Roque Dam"https://web.archive.org/web/20150824233021/http://www.napocor.gov.ph/NPCDams/index.php/our-dams/san-roque-dam
- New Developments in Dam Engineeringhttps://books.google.com/books?id=Q7YL5MkwRmEC&dq=structure+volume+of+three+gorges+dam&pg=PA981
- "The Project of the Century"https://web.mit.edu/skd/Desktop/skd/www/itaipu-web.pdf
- D. Nicol (1994) "The Syncrude Mildred Lake Tailings Dyke Redesign", 18th Int. Congr. Large Dams.
- "Microsoft Word - Baseline Report on Fluid Deposits revE"https://web.archive.org/web/20110706175959/http://www.ercb.ca/docs/products/TailingsPlans/Syncrude_2010_BaselineReport.pdf
- Estimate based on structure volume and dimensions from Google Earth
- Zero reservoir size because full of tailings