1 / 7Three Gorges Dam, China | Stretching across the Yangtze River, the Three Gorges Dam is the world’s largest hydroelectric power station by installed capacity. Completed in 2006, the massive concrete structure generates approximately 84 terawatt-hours of electricity annually, while playing a critical role in flood control and river navigation and transforming transport and energy flows across central China. (Image: Reuters)
2 / 7Baihetan Dam, China | Completed in 2022 on the Jinsha River, the Baihetan Dam represents the cutting edge of modern hydropower engineering. Towering nearly 289 metres high, it houses some of the world’s most powerful turbines and generates over 60 terawatt-hours of electricity each year, strengthening China’s push towards large-scale clean energy. (Image: Reuters)
3 / 7Itaipu Dam, Brazil–Paraguay | Straddling the Paraná River, Itaipu stands as one of the most productive hydroelectric dams ever built. Since its completion in 1984, the binational project has supplied a major share of Paraguay’s electricity and significant power to Brazil, set a global generation record in 2016, and become a symbol of cross-border energy cooperation. (Image: Reuters)
4 / 7Xiluodu Dam, China | Carved into the steep gorges of the Jinsha River, Xiluodu is among the tallest arch dams in the world. Operational since 2013, it supports flood control across the Yangtze basin while producing large-scale hydropower that reduces pressure on downstream infrastructure, including the Three Gorges Dam. (Image: Sasac)
5 / 7Belo Monte Dam, Brazil | Built on the Xingu River in the Amazon basin, Belo Monte is one of the world’s largest hydroelectric projects by installed capacity. Its complex system of turbines supplies electricity to tens of millions of people in Brazil, while also becoming a focal point of national and international debates on environmental impact and sustainable development. (Image: Reuters)
6 / 7Wudongde Dam, China | Completed in 2021, the Wudongde Dam features a striking double-curvature arch design rising high above the Jinsha River. With twelve high-capacity turbines, it delivers nearly 39 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, improving energy security and water management across south-western China. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
7 / 7Tucuruí Dam, Brazil | Located on the Tocantins River, the Tucuruí Dam has been central to powering northern Brazil since the 1980s. Its vast reservoir transformed regional electricity access, enabled industrial growth, and improved river navigation, making it one of Brazil’s most strategically important hydropower projects. (Image: Reuters)
