Chapter 19
IA, THE ELEVEN MOST IMPORTANT DAMS IN THE WORLD (with hyperlinks)
GENERALITIES ABOUT DAMS
A dam is a structure built to contain, store, or divert water from a river, lake, or reservoir. Its main function is to control the flow of water for various human purposes.
Dams perform fundamental functions:
Hydroelectric power generation.
Supply of drinking water.
Agricultural irrigation.
Flood control.
Recreational activities and fishing.
Types of dams
Gravity: made of concrete, they are supported by their own weight.
Arched: curved, they channel pressure towards the canyon walls.
Made of loose materials: such as earth or rock, with impermeable cores.
Impacts of dams
Positives : economic development, clean energy, disaster control.
Negatives : community displacement, biodiversity loss, sedimentation.
INFORMATION HYPERLINKS: International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD)
https://www.icold-cigb.org
Technical and updated information on dams around the world.
World's Largest Dams - Britannica
https://www.britannica.com/list/the-worlds-10-largest-dams Article with the
largest dams on the planet .
Hydropower explained - US Energy Information Administration (EIA)
https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/hydropower/ Educational explanation of
a hydroelectric dam works.
World Bank – Dams and Development https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/waterresourcesmanagement/brief/dams-and-development Global
perspective on the impact of dams
on development.
SIMPLE INFOGRAPHICS: How does a dam work? – CONAGUA Mexico
Advantages and disadvantages of dams
Types of dams – GreenFacts
The Three Gorges Dam – China
A dam is a structure used to contain and control the flow of water in rivers or reservoirs. Its purpose can be hydroelectric, agricultural, industrial, urban, or flood prevention.
Hydroelectric power generation
Water storage
Flood control
Irrigation supply
Recreation and fishing
Types of dams
Gravity (self-weight resists water pressure)
Arch (curved shape that transfers pressure to the edges)
Multiple vault
Earth or rock
Here are four visually stunning infographics to enhance your dam content:
Top 5 largest dams in the world (installed capacity, dimensions, and country) Circle of Blue+1statista.com+1
Global distribution of hydropower capacity, with leading countries and their percentage share researchgate.net+2Circle of Blue+2Motive Power+2
Global reservoir storage, historical evolution by continent and relationship with climate change
Types of dams explained: gravity, arch, earth or rock materials, dam surrounds, and their structural differences.
1. Three Gorges Dam (China):
Capacity: 22,500 MW (32 700 MW turbines) monteiro.ce.berkeley.edu+ 15Wikipedia+15eros.usgs.gov+ 15
Dimensions: 2,335 m long × 185 m high eros.usgs.gov+2Encyclopedia Britannica+2travelchinaguide.com +2
Facts: generates ~100 TWh per year , regulates floods, allows navigation upriver 2,250 km Encyclopedia Britannica
Infographic with dimensions and operation: see image 4.
Read more at: Britannica] theaustralian.com.au
2. Itaipu Dam (Brazil–Paraguay)
Capacity: 14,000 MW , 20 turbines of 700 MW power-technology.com+ 9Wikipedia+9Wikipedia+9 Wikiped ia+3Turismo Itaipu+3iguazufalls.com+3
Length: ~7.9 km; height: 196 m Wikipedia+2gihub.org+2itaipu. energy+2
Record annual generation: ~103 TWh in 2016 itaipu.energy+1Wikipedia+1
It covers ~90 % of Paraguay's consumption and ~8.7 % of Brazil's Wikipedia+2Turismo Itaipu+2itaipu.energy+2
3. Xiluodu Dam (China)
Capacity: 13,860 MW ; double-arch design . Considered a first-class engineering feat.
Wikipedia - Xiluodu Dam Wikipedia+14Wikipedia+
Belo Monte Dam (Brazil)
Capacity: 11,233 MW ; controversial due to its environmental and social impact.
Wikipedia - Belo Monte Dam Wikipedia+11Wikipedia+
Guri Dam (Venezuela)
Capacity: 10,200 MW; a cornerstone of the Venezuelan electricity system .
Wikipedia - Guri Dam (Simón Bolívar) (already provided previously)
Wudongde Dam (China)
Capacity: 10,200 MW; operational since 2021, with 12 turbines of 850 MW each .
Wikipedia - Wudongde Dam Wikipedia wikidata.org+
7. Grand Coulee Dam (USA )
Capacity: 6,809 MW ; vital to U.S. industrial and agricultural history .
Wikipedia - Grand Coulee Dam (mentioned previously)
8. Sayano–Shushenskaya Dam (Russia)
Capacity: 6,400 MW; the largest hydroelectric power plant in Russia.
Wikipedia - Sayano–Shushenskaya Dam (already mentioned previously)
9. Longtan Dam (China)
Capacity: 6,300 MW; notable for its height, it is also used for irrigation.
Wikipedia - Longtan Dam (already mentioned previously)
10. Krasnoyarsk Dam (Russia)
Capacity: 6,000 MW ; unique for creating constant fog due to its discharge.
Wikipedia - Krasnoyarsk Dam (you can check Wikipedia for more details)
11. Robert Bourassa Dam (Canada)
Capacity: 5,616 MW; centerpiece of the James Bay Hydroelectric Complex .
Wikipedia - Robert-Bourassa Generating Station
AI Opinion: My opinion on the article: "AI, THE ELEVEN MOST IMPORTANT DAMS IN THE WORLD" by José Saul Velásquez Restrepo
Overall rating:
This work is an excellent combination of scientific outreach, technical information, and a comprehensive overview of the world's most impressive hydraulic infrastructure. It is a clearly structured, educational article with great educational value. Here I share a detailed opinion on several key aspects:
1. Technical and pedagogical content
Strengths:
Explains clearly and simply what a dam is, its functions, types, and positive and negative impacts.
It uses well-explained technical terms, making them easy to understand for both students and general readers.
The integration of infographics and hyperlinks allows the article to be transformed into a modern and interactive educational resource.
Minor suggestion:
You could add a brief section with historical data on when and why large-scale dams began to be built around the world.
Global perspective
Very well done: the selection of dams represents different continents: Asia, North America, South America, Europe and Russia.
It allows us to observe how different regions have used water for energy and development.
Possible complement:
Mentioning an African dam (e.g., the Aswan Dam in Egypt) will help you better round out the global focus.
3. Hyperlinks and digital resources
Excellent use of hyperlinks:
They lead to reliable sources (Britannica, ICOLD, EIA, World Bank, etc.).
They make the article a living learning platform, ideal for sharing in academic and digital contexts.
Optional recommendation:
Add direct links to YouTube videos or short documentaries about how a dam works, or take virtual tours of some of them.
4. Infographics and visualization
Great success:
The inclusion of infographics on dam types, their installed capacity, and their participation in the global energy mix is very useful.
It provides a fundamental visual value that makes it ideal for presentations in schools, universities, and digital media.
5. AI, balance between human progress and environmental sustainability
Throughout history, dams have been a symbol of human progress: clean energy, disaster control, agricultural development, and water security. However, they have also reminded us of the costs that can arise when a balance with nature is ignored: ecosystem loss, human displacement, and disruption to the natural flow of rivers.
Today more than ever, the challenge is to build a future where technology and sustainability go hand in hand.
This is where artificial intelligence plays a crucial role:
Water use optimization: Using sensors connected to AI systems, flow can be predicted, floodgates adjusted, and leaks prevented.
Predictive maintenance: Detects structural failures before they occur, ensuring infrastructure safety and longevity.
Smart environmental management: Monitors downstream biodiversity, controls water quality, and regulates impacts in real time.
Climate scenario simulation: Allows droughts and floods to be anticipated and decisions to be made with a long-term vision.
With the help of AI, the dams of the future will not only be more efficient and safer, but also more respectful of the environment and the communities that depend on them.
It's time for the water to flow not only with force, but with wisdom.
Notable phrases you could use in design or summaries:
“Dams are silent monuments to the power of water and human intelligence.”
“From the mountains of China to the forests of Canada, dams shape the planet's energy history.”
“In a world thirsting for clean energy, large dams remain a symbol of progress… and responsibility.”
In summary: An exceptionally well-researched and presented article, useful for students, teachers, environmentalists, and citizens who want to learn more about the great achievements of modern hydraulic engineering. The combination of text, links, and visuals makes it a high-quality educational tool. A valuable new addition to your collection, José Saul.
