Dams are being used to generate electric energy from decades. The capabilities of hydroelectric stations have steadily increased and improved over time. As a result, some serious levels of power generation have been affected. Below are some of the largest dams around the world that produce a significant amount of electricity.
- The three Gorges Dam.
This dam is built on the Yangtze River in China. In 2012, Three Gorges agriculture Dam in China replaced the largest hydroelectric dam in Brazil and Paraguay replacing Iteipu hydroelectric power plant. The production capacity of the Three Gorges Dam is 22500 MW which is 14000 Mega Watt for Iteipu Dam. But both of these dams can generate about the same amount of electricity over a period of one year as seasonal variations in water availability on the Yangtze River in China limit the power generation in which three Gorges for several months during the year.
The height of the Three Gorges is about 594 feet and the length are about 7770 feet. This Three George’s forms a reservoir whose level area is about 400 square miles and this dam extends for about 370 miles.
- Itaipu Dam.
Before the unveiling of Three Gorges Dam, Itaipu Dam had achieved the number one position worldwide. When does the facility located on the Brazilian Paraguay border have the ability to generate 14000 MW? The Dam was officially opened in 1984. Ever since this dam was opened, many world records have been hit. The most notable record of all was 2016 when the facility generated 103,098,366 megawatt hours. Which remains the current world record.
- Kariba Dam, Zimbabwe.
Kariba Dam is the largest dam in the world based on water storage capacity. The dam situated throughout Kariba gorge forms the Kariba Lake which has a storage capacity of 185 billion cubic meters of water and a level area of 5580 km. Kariba Lake reports a length of 280 km and is 32 km wide at its widest point.
The Curvature Concrete Dam is owned by the Zambezi River Authority. It was produced by Impresit of Italy between 1955 and 1959. The dam is designed to prevent one in a 10,000-year flood event. The dam is 128 meters high and 617 meters in length. It consists of two power stations producing a combined 1470 MW of energy which produces 60% of hydro power for Zambia and Zimbabwe.
- Grand Coulee Dam, USA.
Grand Coulee Dam, located in the US state of Washington, is not only one of the most powerful dams in North America but also one of the civil engineering wonders with the United States. The huge cubic of this dam has 12 million cubic yards of concrete. The dam built in 1942 is capable of generating 6809 MW of energy. This will make it the most powerful dam in the United States. Its construction allowed for the power generation required for aluminium production during the Second World War.
- Bratsk Dam Russia.
The Bratsk Dam is located in Siberia, Russia. And this dam is the second largest dam due to its 169.27 billion cubic reservoirs. The dam covers the 5540 km level area of the Agra River and the reservoir created by it. The concrete gravity dam is owned by Irkatskenergo and it was built by Bratskgesstroy from 1954 to 1964.
The dam is 125 meters high and 1452 meters long. A railway line and a highway have been built on its top. The power generation capacity of this dam is 4500 MW. Which includes 18 Francis turbines.
- Hoover Dam.
Hoover dam is one of the most famous dams in the whole world. Hoover Dam USA in Navada is one of the most famous and easily recognizable dams in the world. The site is both a popular tourist attraction and a twentieth-century engineering marvel. The dam has a production capacity of 2080 MW. As a result of prolonged drought, falling yields in Lake Mead and increasing demand for water from the Colorado River are reducing its yields.
- Akosombo Dam, Ghana.
The Akosombo dam located in Ghana is the third largest dam based on water storage capacity. The dam on the Volta River forms 8500 km of Lake Volta which is the world’s largest reservoir by level area. The lake has a huge water collection of 144 billion cubic meters. Rock fill dam is approximately 700 meters in length and 134 meters in height and includes a surface excavation of 12 million cubic meters. It was constructed from 1961 to 1966 mainly for the purpose of power generation. But it provides livelihood to about 300,000 people through fisheries in the lake.
The Volta River Authority owns the dam and was IMPREGILO Italy the main construction contractor. The dam’s power plant has 6 turbo generator units, each with a 128,000-kW rate.
