Reservoirs serve as vital water storage systems, providing irrigation, drinking water, hydroelectric power, and flood control across the globe. Below is a detailed list of the largest reservoirs by nominal volume (km³), their dams, associated rivers, and countries of location.
Top Reservoirs by Volume
- Lake Kariba
- Dam: Kariba Dam
- River: Zambezi River
- Location: Zambia and Zimbabwe
- Year Built: 1959
- Nominal Volume: 180.6 km³
- Bratsk Reservoir
- Dam: Bratsk Dam
- River: Angara River
- Location: Russia
- Year Built: 1964
- Nominal Volume: 169 km³
- Lake Volta
- Dam: Akosombo Dam
- River: Volta River
- Location: Ghana
- Year Built: 1965
- Nominal Volume: 150 km³
- Manicouagan Reservoir
- Dam: Daniel-Johnson Dam
- River: Manicouagan River
- Location: Canada
- Year Built: 1968
- Nominal Volume: 141.85 km³
- Guri Reservoir
- Dam: Guri Dam
- River: Caroní River
- Location: Venezuela
- Year Built: 1986
- Nominal Volume: 135 km³
- Lake Nasser
- Dam: Aswan High Dam
- River: Nile River
- Location: Egypt and Sudan
- Year Built: 1971
- Nominal Volume: 132 km³
- Millennium Reservoir(Under Construction)
- Dam: Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
- River: Blue Nile River
- Location: Ethiopia
- Nominal Volume: 79 km³
- Williston Lake
- Dam: W. A. C. Bennett Dam
- River: Peace River
- Location: Canada
- Year Built: 1967
- Nominal Volume: 74.3 km³
- Krasnoyarsk Reservoir
- Dam: Krasnoyarsk Dam
- River: Yenisei River
- Location: Russia
- Year Built: 1967
- Nominal Volume: 73.3 km³
- Zeya Reservoir
- Dam: Zeya Hydroelectric Station
- River: Zeya River
- Location: Russia
- Year Built: 1978
- Nominal Volume: 68.4 km³
Significant Reservoirs
- Three Gorges Reservoir (China): Known for its monumental size and hydroelectric power generation, the Three Gorges Dam holds a volume of 39.3 km³.
- Lake Mead (USA): Created by the Hoover Dam, this reservoir has a volume of 37.3 km³, serving as a crucial water source for the southwestern United States.
- Cahora Bassa (Mozambique): Situated on the Zambezi River, this reservoir has a volume of 55.8 km³ and supports the region’s hydroelectric needs.
- Lake Powell (USA): Stored by the Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River, it holds 35.55 km³.
Reservoirs with Dual Impact
Several reservoirs, like Lake Kariba and Lake Volta, not only serve hydroelectric power purposes but also contribute to regional agriculture, fisheries, and flood management. Their extensive volumes make them pivotal for sustainable development in their respective regions.
