Largest Hydropower Projects (World and U.S.)

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World's Largest Capacity Dams

Order
Name
River
Country
Capacity (MW)
Year Completed
1 Three Gorges Yangtze China 22,500 2012
2 Itaipu Parana Brazil/Paraguay 12,600 1983
3 Guri Caroni Venezuela 10,300 1986
4 Tucuruí Toncantins Brazil 8,370 1984
5 Grand Coulee Columbia U.S.A. 6,180 1942
6 Sayano-Shushensk Yenisei Russia 6,400 1989
7 Longtan Hongshui Canada 6,300 2009
8 Krasnoyacsk Yenisei Russia 6,000 1972
9 Robert-Bourassa La Grande Canada 5,616 1968
10 Churchill Falls Churchill Canada 5,428 1971

U.S. Largest Capacity Dams

Order
Name
River
Location
Capacity (MW)
1 Grand Coulee Columbia Washington 6,180
2 Chief Joseph Columbia Washington 2,620
3 Niagra Falls Niagra New York 2,515
4 Hoover Colorado Nevada 2,080
5 Bath County P/S Little Back Creek Virginia 2,100
6 John Day Columbia Oregon 2,160
7 The Dalles Columbia Oregon 2,038
8 Luddington Lake Michigan Michigan 1,657
9 Raccoon Mountain Tennessee River Tennessee 1,530
10 Pyramid California Aqueduct California 1,250

Source: USCOLD Register of Dams