largest dam in india

Largest dam in india Welcome everyone to read today’s post. Today we will learn about some of the largest dams through this poster. It is very important that we all have more or less knowledge about dams. Because in this regard there are various types of tests ie – from SSC exams to general awareness sections of bank exams, there are questions on various topics like politics, geography, sports and many more.

Dams are an important issue, even in a general awareness sense. Because in many government exams including bank exam, SSC exam, RRB exam etc. questions related to dams are seen again and again. So it is understood that it is important for all of us to have an idea about dams. So without further ado let’s get to know about it in detail.

What is the Dam?

Dams are barriers that impede the flow of water, creating reservoirs. These structures are primarily constructed to generate hydroelectricity using water. Reservoirs created by dams serve several purposes, including flood control, irrigation, human consumption, industrial usage, aquaculture, and navigation.

For the convenience of candidates, a PDF list of Dams in India can be downloaded below to aid in exam preparation.

Types of Dams

India boasts numerous dams, making it crucial to familiarize oneself with them as they often appear in various exams such as IBPS or SBI. Dams can be classified based on their structure, and the different types are outlined below:

Arch Dam

This is a concrete dam that curves upstream in the plan. The hydrostatic pressure of the water against it pushes against the arch, strengthening the structure as it pushes into its foundation or abutments. It is most suitable for narrow canyons or gorges with stable rock walls.

Gravity Dam

These dams are constructed using concrete or stone masonry and hold back water using only the weight of the material and its resistance against the foundation to oppose the horizontal pressure of the water pushing against it. Each section of the dam is designed to be stable and independent of the others.

Arch-Gravity Dam

This dam has the characteristics of both an arch dam and a gravity dam. It curves upstream in a narrowing curve that directs most of the water pressure against the canyon rock walls, reducing the lateral force acting on the dam.

Barrages

This type of low-head, diversion dam consists of a number of large gates that can be opened or closed to regulate the amount of water passing through. It helps regulate and stabilize river water elevation upstream for irrigation and other systems.

Embankment Dams

These are large artificial dams created by compacting a complex semi-plastic mound of various compositions of soil, sand, clay, or rock. It has a semi-pervious waterproof natural covering for its surface and a dense, impervious core.

Rock-Fill Dams

These are embankments of compacted free-draining granular earth with an impervious zone. The earth utilized often contains a high percentage of large particles.

Concrete-Face Rock-Fill Dams

This is a rock-fill dam with concrete slabs on its upstream face, providing an impervious wall to prevent leakage and a structure without concern for uplift pressure.

Earth-Fill Dams

These are constructed as a simple embankment of well-compacted earth. They may be entirely constructed of one type of material but may contain a drain layer to collect seep water.

Major Dams in India

India’s significant dams have contributed significantly to the well-being of its residents by providing ample benefits, including:

Meeting the demand for water for domestic, industrial, and irrigation purposes.

Generating hydroelectric power and facilitating river navigation.

Serving as recreational areas for fishing and boating, thanks to their reservoirs.

Assisting in reducing the impact of floods.

Some important Dams in India:

The topic of “List of Dams in India” holds significant importance as a static GK (General Knowledge) topic in the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) syllabus.

Below is a compilation of some of the Largest dams in India.

Below are the descriptions of some of the biggest dams in India:

Tehri Dam

Located in the state of Uttarakhand, the Tehri Dam is the tallest dam in India, standing at a height of 260.5 metres. It is also one of the top ten tallest dams in the world and is situated on the Bhagirathi river. The dam is a rock fill type.

Height: 260.5 m

Length: 575 m

Type: Rock fill

Reservoir capacity: 21,00,000 acre feet

Installed capacity: 1000 Megawatt

Bhakra Nangal Dam

The Bhakra Nangal Dam is situated on the Sutlej river and is located in the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. It is the largest dam in India, standing at a height of 225 metres, and is also the second-largest dam in Asia. The dam is a concrete gravity type.

Height: 226 m

Length: 520 m

Type: Concrete Gravity

Reservoir capacity: 75,01,775 acre feet

Installed capacity: 1325 Megawatt

Hirakud Dam

The state of Orissa is home to the Hirakud Dam, the longest dam in India and one of the longest in the world. The dam spans a total length of 25.79 km and is situated on the Mahanadi River. The Hirakud Dam is a composite dam with a height of 61 m and a main dam length of 4.8 km. The reservoir capacity is 47,79,965 acre-feet, and it has an installed capacity of 347.5 Megawatts.

Nagarjuna Sagar Dam

Located in the state of Telangana, the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is India’s largest masonry dam to date and the largest man-made lake in the world. The dam, which is situated on the Krishna River, has a length of 1.55 km and 26 gates. It is a masonry dam with a height of 124 m and a total length of 4,863 m. The reservoir capacity is 93,71,845 acre-feet, and it has an installed capacity of 816 Megawatts.

Sardar Sarovar Dam

The Sardar Sarovar Dam, situated on the Narmada River in the state of Gujarat, is the largest dam in the Narmada Valley Project. The dam is designed to benefit the neighboring states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra. The Sardar Sarovar Dam is a gravity dam with a height of 163 m and a length of 1,210 m. The reservoir capacity is 77,00,000 acre-feet, and it has an installed capacity of 1,450 Megawatts.

While there are many dams in India, the Bank Exams’ General Awareness section usually focuses on these largest dams.

Dams In India – Sample Questions

Below are some sample questions related to dams in India which can be useful for various competitive exams. These questions can help you understand the relevance of the subject and the variety of questions that can be asked in these exams.

Question 1: Hirakud Dam is one of the longest dams in the world with a length of 25.8 km. On which river is it located?

1. a) Godavari
2. b) Tungabhadra
3. c) Mahanadi
4. D) Brahmaputra

Answer: c) Mahanadi

Question 2: Tehri Dam in Uttarakhand is built on which river?

1. a) Bhagirathi
2. b) Teesta
3. c) Alkananda
4. D) Ghagar

Answer: a) Bhagirathi

Question 3: Which dam is located on Sutlej River?

1. a) Koina Dam
2. b) Nagarjuna Sagar
3. c) Bhakra Nangal Dam
4. D) Gandhisagar Dam

Answer: c) Bhakra Nangal Dam

Question 4: Which of the following dams is not located on Krishna river?

1. A) Nagarjunasagar
2. b) Srisailam
3. c) symptoms
4. D) Krishnaraj Sagar

Answer: d) Krishnaraja Sagar Dam

India’s Largest Dam This was the main topic of this post today. Hope everyone benefited from this post. Visit this website regularly to get more required posts.