What are the tallest arch dams in the world?

Arch dams are concrete structures curved upstream that use water pressure to push into their foundations for added strength. The tallest man-made dam in the world is the Jinping-I Dam in China, which is an arch dam standing at 305 meters tall. These dams are best suited for narrow canyons with stable rock walls and require less construction material than other types.

What we know

• The tallest man-made dam in the world is the Jinping-I Dam, which is an arch dam located in China and stands at 305 meters high. [2]
• An arch dam is a concrete dam curved upstream in plan, designed to let hydrostatic water pressure press against the arch and push into its foundations or abutments. [3]
• Arch dams are most suitable for narrow canyons or gorges featuring steep walls of stable rock that can support the structure and its stresses. [3]
• Because arch dams are thinner than other dam types, they require much less construction material, making them economical and practical in remote areas. [3]

Where to go next

• how it workedHow does water pressure strengthen an arch dam?
• compared withWhat is the tallest embankment dam in the world?
• a case in pointJinping-I Dam
• what caused itWhat makes a narrow canyon ideal for dam construction?
• the bigger pictureDams
• an unexpected connectionHow does a natural landslide dam compare in height to the tallest man-made arch dam?The tallest natural dam, the Usoi Dam in Tajikistan, reaches 567 meters, dwarfing the tallest man-made arch dam by over 260 meters.

Sources

• [1]list of tallest dams (Wikidata Q1754883) · CC0 1.0
• [2]List of tallest dams · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Arch dam · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]List of tallest dams in Switzerland · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]List of largest dams · CC BY-SA 4.0