What is the world's largest concrete dam?

Grand Coulee Dam

The Grand Coulee Dam is said to be the largest concrete dam.

Currently the world's largest cement dam is the Itaipu Dam, an accomplishment of two neighboring countries, Brazil and Paraguay in South America.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/wonder/structure/itaipu.html

Though it isn't finished yet, the 3 Gorges (or Sandapong) dam on the Yangtze river in China will take over as the largest, upon completion slated for 2009.

http://www.cnn.com/EARTH/9711/08/china.3gorges/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/photo_gallery/2977722.stm

Answer

It is the Three Gorges in China... on the upper Yangtze River.This dam is STILL under construction.Here are some interesting facts about it:

1. Forty thousand builders will work for 16 years to complete Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River. 2. The dam will benefit some two million Chinese by controlling flooding on the lower Yangtze River, generating hydroelectric power, and reducing pollution caused by the burning of coal. 3. The dam may also cause problems, such as causing flooding upstream, possibly causing an earthquake, displacing people, eliminating tourist trade to the area, and destroying important archaeological artifacts.

Dai Qing. M.E. Sharpe, Inc., 1998. If built according to plan, Three Gorges will become the world's largest dam, submerging 13 cities, 140 towns, and 1,352 villages and requiring the resettlement of 1.9 million people. The dam will also bury hundreds of archeological sites, put several highly endangered species in jeopardy, and forever deface the magnificent beauty of the Three Gorges Region. Dai Qing, a woman investigative journalist and author with a wide following in China and abroad, has assembled this collection of essays assessing the impact of Three Gorges.

First answer by Tobyvictory. Last edit by Tobyvictory. Contributor trust: 65 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 62 [recommend question]