Engineering Marvels: The World’s Most Notable Dams

Experts suggest that the first dam was built by the Ancient Egyptians around 2950-2750B.C.

In that time, it is apparent that the technology and the way that dams are built and engineered has vastly changed. Check out our list of some of the world’s most notable dams:

1. Hoover Dam

   Nevada’s Hoover Dam is a world renowned concrete-arch gravity dam that was completed in 1936. Approximately 21,000 workers were involved in the construction of this landmark.

   For more information on the Hoover Dam, click here.

   

   Photo Source: history.com

2. Three Gorges Dam

   The Three Gorges Dam, located on the Yangtze River in China is the world’s largest hydroelectric dam, generating 18,000 megawatts of power!

   Wanna know more about the Three Gorges Dam? Check it out here.

   

   Photo Source: Business Insider

3. Gardiner Dam

   Saskatchewan’s Gardiner Dam, an embankment dam, is the largest earth filled dam in Canada. It’s base has a volume of 65,000,000 cubic meters.

   

   Photo Source: chiefwhitecapwaterway.ca

4. Oroville Dam

   The Oroville Dam in California is an earth fill embankment dam, and the tallest dam in the United States (standing at 770 feet high).

   In February 2017, after heavy rain in the area, the dam’s main and emergency spillways were damaged; approximately 180,000 people were evacuated from the area.

   

   Photo Source: The Epoch Times

5. Aswan Dam

   Spanning across the Nile River is the famous Aswan Dam. The Dam was completed in 1970, costing approximately $1 billion to complete. The creation of the dam is considered a huge success for the Egypt; allowing the annual flood of the Nile to be controlled, as well as producing an annual total of 10 billion kilowatt-hours.

   

   Photo Source: britannica.com

6. Tarbela Dam

   The Tarbela Dam on the Indus River in Pakistan is the world’s largest earth-filled dam. In terms of reservoir capacity, the dam is the world’s second largest, and required 138 million cubic yards of fill to complete.

   

   Photo Source: Pakistan Today

7. Glen Canyon Dam

   The Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River is an arch-gravity dam in northern Arizona. It is America’s second highest concrete-arch dam (only surpassed by the Hoover Dam), and has the capability to produce 1,320 megawatts of electrical power.

   

   Photo Source: usbr.gov