List of largest dams


The following table lists the largest man-made dams by volume of fill/structure. By general definition, a dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams, hence tailings dams are relegated to a separate list. Be aware that data on volume of structure is not as easily available or reliable as data on dam height and reservoir volume.
RankNameCountryYear completedStructure height Structure volume Reservoir volume Installed capacity Type
1Tarbela Dam197614315313.74,888TE/ER
2Fort Peck Dam194076.49623185TE
3Atatürk Dam199016684.548.72,400TE/ER
4Houtribdijk1968137820TE/ER
5Oahe Dam19637570.329786TE/ER
6Mangla Dam196714765.47.251,000TE or TE/ER
7Gardiner Dam19676465.49.4186TE
8Oroville Dam196823059.64.36819TE/ER
9San Luis Dam 19679359.62.52424TE
10Nurek Dam19803005410.53,200TE
11Samara Dam1955525457.32,315TE or ER
12Garrison Dam19546450.829NATE
13Cochiti Dam197576.550.20.73NATE
14Aswan Dam197011144.31692,100TE/ER
15W. A. C. Bennett Dam196818643.77.42,876TE
16San Roque Dam2003200400.835345TE or ER
17Fort Randall Dam195350.338.26.7320TE/ER
18Afsluitdijk19321336.55.50TE/ER
19Kölnbrein Dam197920035.21.581,028.5TE
20Guri Dam197816229.813510,235PG/ER
21Three Gorges Dam200818127.439.322,500PG
22Hirakud Dam195760.9619.28.14347.5TE/ER

Type: TE - Earth; ER - Rock-fill; PG - Concrete gravity; CFRD - Concrete face rock fill.

List of largest tailings dams

Type: TE - Earth; ER - Rock-fill; PG - Concrete gravity; CFRD - Concrete face rock fill.