The 30 tallest dams in the world
The top 3 according to 120 votes from people: Jinping-I Dam · Nurek Dam · Lianghekou Dam. (Updated Nov 6, 2025.)
At 305 metres, the Jinping-I Dam on China's Yalong River is the tallest man-made dam in the world, followed by Nurek in Tajikistan, the tallest embankment dam, and Lianghekou. China has 12 of the top 30. The list covers man-made dams completed up to 2025, ranked by height, with type, river and year; it leaves out natural dams such as Usoi and dams not yet complete in 2025, such as Rogun and Shuangjiangkou.
Automatically translated (original in Español). See the original
Top 30
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1
Jinping-I Dam
305 m tall. Concrete arch, Yalong River, China. Completed in 2013. The tallest man-made dam in the world.
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2
Nurek Dam
300 m tall. Earth-fill embankment, Vakhsh River, Tajikistan. Completed in 1980. The tallest embankment dam in the world.
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3
Lianghekou Dam
295 m tall. Concrete-face rock-fill, Yalong River, China. Completed in 2021.
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4
Xiaowan Dam
292 m tall. Concrete arch, Lancang (Mekong) River, China. Completed in 2010.
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5
Yusufeli Dam
270 m tall. Concrete arch, Çoruh River, Turkey. Completed in 2021.
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6
Baihetan Dam
289 m tall. Concrete arch, Jinsha River, China. Completed in 2021.
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7
Xiluodu Dam
285.5 m tall. Concrete arch, Jinsha River, China. Completed in 2013.
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8
Changheba Dam
240 m tall. Concrete-face rock-fill, Dadu River, China. Completed in 2016.
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9
El Cajón Dam
234 m tall. Concrete double-arch, Humuya River, Honduras. Completed in 1985.
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10
Mauvoisin Dam
250 m tall. Concrete arch, Dranse de Bagnes River, Switzerland. Completed in 1957.
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11
Oroville Dam
234.7 m tall. Earth-fill embankment, Feather River, United States. Completed in 1968.
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12
Karun-4 Dam
230 m tall. Concrete arch-gravity, Karun River, Iran. Completed in 2010.
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13
Grande Dixence Dam
285 m tall. Concrete gravity, Dixence River, Switzerland. Completed in 1964. The tallest gravity dam in the world.
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14
Tehri Dam
260.5 m tall. Earth-fill embankment, Bhagirathi River, India. Completed in 2006.
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15
Manuel Moreno Torres (Chicoasén) Dam
261 m tall. Earth-fill embankment, Grijalva River, Mexico. Completed in 1980.
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16
Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam
242 m tall. Concrete arch-gravity, Yenisei River, Russia. Completed in 1985.
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17
Enguri Dam
271.5 m tall. Concrete arch, Enguri River, Georgia. Completed in 1978.
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18
Nuozhadu Dam
261.5 m tall. Embankment, Lancang (Mekong) River, China. Completed in 2012.
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19
Gilgel Gibe III Dam
243 m tall. Roller-compacted concrete gravity, Omo River, Ethiopia. Completed in 2015.
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20
Laxiwa Dam
250 m tall. Concrete arch, Yellow River, China. Completed in 2009.
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21
Alberto Lleras (Guavio) Dam
243 m tall. Rock-fill embankment, Guavio River, Colombia. Completed in 1989.
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22
Mica Dam
243 m tall. Earth-fill embankment, Columbia River, Canada. Completed in 1973.
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23
Wudongde Dam
240 m tall. Concrete gravity, Jinsha River, China. Completed in 2021.
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24
La Esmeralda (Chivor) Dam
237 m tall. Rock-fill embankment, Batá River, Colombia. Completed in 1976.
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25
Vajont Dam
261.6 m tall. Concrete double-arch, Vajont River, Italy. Completed in 1959. Disused since the 1963 landslide disaster, which killed about 2,000 people.
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26
Deriner Dam
249 m tall. Concrete double-arch, Çoruh River, Turkey. Completed in 2012.
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27
Shuibuya Dam
233 m tall. Concrete-face rock-fill, Qing River, China. Completed in 2008.
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28
Goupitan Dam
232.5 m tall. Concrete double-arch, Wu River, China. Completed in 2009.
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29
Ertan Dam
240 m tall. Concrete arch-gravity, Yalong River, China. Completed in 1999.
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30
Chirkey Dam
232.5 m tall. Concrete arch, Sulak River, Russia. Completed in 1976.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (1)
Y la Grande Dixence de 1964 sigue ahí en el puesto 7, que es de gravedad, o sea que se aguanta solo con su peso. Los suizos no hacen nada a medias.