The tallest dams in China are some of the tallest dams in the world. Nearly 22,000 dams over 15 metres (49 ft) in height – about half the world's total – have been constructed in
China since the 1950s. Many of the tallest are located in the southwestern part of the country (
Guizhou,
Sichuan,
Yunnan) on rivers such as the
Mekong, the
Yangtze, and its upper stretch (
Jinsha River) and tributaries (
Yalong,
Dadu,
Min and
Wu). The
Yellow River in the western part of the country also hosts several among the tallest. Purposes for these high structures include
flood control,
irrigation and, predominantly,
hydroelectric power. While beneficial, many throughout the country have been criticized for their effects on the environment, displacement of locals and effect on
transboundary river flows.[1] Currently, the country's and world's tallest,
Jinping-I Dam, an
arch dam 305 m (1,001 ft) high, is located in
Sichuan.[2] The tallest
embankment dam in China is the 261 m (856 ft)
Nuozhadu Dam in Yunnan. The country's highest
gravity dam is
Longtan Dam at 216.2 m (709 ft), which can be found in
Guangxi.[3] At 233 m (764 ft),
Shuibuya Dam in
Hubei is the world's tallest
concrete-face rock-fill dam.[4][5] In Sichuan, the government is constructing the 312 m (1,024 ft) tall
Shuangjiangkou Dam which, when complete, will become the world's tallest dam.[6][7]
List
All Chinese dams over 100 m (330 ft) in height are listed below.
^"Middle Route Project (MRP)". Office of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project Commission of the State Council. Archived from
the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
^四川卡基娃水电站预计2014年全部运行 (in Chinese). Polaris Power Network News. 9 March 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
^"Xiangjiaba HPP". Hydro China Zhonggnan Engineering. Archived from
the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
^Cheng-Bin Du, Yong-Wen Hong (29 November 2010).
"Building Jinanqiao Dam". International Water Power and Dam Construction. Archived from
the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2011.
^大唐观音岩水电开发有限公司 (in Chinese). China CDT. Archived from
the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2011.
^立洲水电站 (in Chinese). Changjiang Water Resources Network and Information Center. 19 August 2011. Archived from
the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
^云南龙江水电站枢纽工程通过竣工验收 (in Chinese). Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute. 3 January 2014. Archived from
the original on 13 February 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
The tallest dams in China are some of the tallest dams in the world. Nearly 22,000 dams over 15 metres (49 ft) in height – about half the world's total – have been constructed in
China since the 1950s. Many of the tallest are located in the southwestern part of the country (
Guizhou,
Sichuan,
Yunnan) on rivers such as the
Mekong, the
Yangtze, and its upper stretch (
Jinsha River) and tributaries (
Yalong,
Dadu,
Min and
Wu). The
Yellow River in the western part of the country also hosts several among the tallest. Purposes for these high structures include
flood control,
irrigation and, predominantly,
hydroelectric power. While beneficial, many throughout the country have been criticized for their effects on the environment, displacement of locals and effect on
transboundary river flows.[1] Currently, the country's and world's tallest,
Jinping-I Dam, an
arch dam 305 m (1,001 ft) high, is located in
Sichuan.[2] The tallest
embankment dam in China is the 261 m (856 ft)
Nuozhadu Dam in Yunnan. The country's highest
gravity dam is
Longtan Dam at 216.2 m (709 ft), which can be found in
Guangxi.[3] At 233 m (764 ft),
Shuibuya Dam in
Hubei is the world's tallest
concrete-face rock-fill dam.[4][5] In Sichuan, the government is constructing the 312 m (1,024 ft) tall
Shuangjiangkou Dam which, when complete, will become the world's tallest dam.[6][7]
List
All Chinese dams over 100 m (330 ft) in height are listed below.
^"Middle Route Project (MRP)". Office of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project Commission of the State Council. Archived from
the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
^四川卡基娃水电站预计2014年全部运行 (in Chinese). Polaris Power Network News. 9 March 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
^"Xiangjiaba HPP". Hydro China Zhonggnan Engineering. Archived from
the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
^Cheng-Bin Du, Yong-Wen Hong (29 November 2010).
"Building Jinanqiao Dam". International Water Power and Dam Construction. Archived from
the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2011.
^大唐观音岩水电开发有限公司 (in Chinese). China CDT. Archived from
the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2011.
^立洲水电站 (in Chinese). Changjiang Water Resources Network and Information Center. 19 August 2011. Archived from
the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
^云南龙江水电站枢纽工程通过竣工验收 (in Chinese). Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute. 3 January 2014. Archived from
the original on 13 February 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.