With the exception of the Great Wall of China, dams are the largest structures ever built. Throughout history, big dams have prevented flooding, irrigated farmland, and generated tremendous amounts of electricity. Without dams, modern life as we know it would simply not be the same.
Since the first large-scale dam was built in Egypt more than 5,000 years ago, engineers have devised various types of dams to withstand the forces of a raging river.
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| Arch dam: El Atazar Dam |
Arch dams...are good for narrow, rocky locations. They are curved, and the natural shape of the arch holds back the water in the reservoir. Arch dams, like the El Atazar Dam in Spain, are thin and require less material than any other type of dam.
Sneak a peek at the forces that affect arch dams.
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| Buttress dam: Bartlett Dam |
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| Embankment dam: New Waddell Dam |
Embankment dams...are the most commonly built dams in the United States. They are massive dams made of earth and rock. Embankment dams rely on their heavy weight to resist the force of the water. Like gravity dams, embankment dams rely on their heavy weight to resist the force of the water. But embankment dams are also armed with a dense, waterproof core that prevents water from seeping through the structure. Tailings dams -- large structures that hold back mining waste -- are a type of embankment dam.
Check out the forces that affect embankment dams.
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| Gravity dam: Grand Coulee Dam |
All dams -- whether they're embankment, buttress, arch, or gravity -- must be maintained as they get older. Without proper maintenance, spillways can clog and concrete can crack. Some dams are even removed because they block the migration of fish.
When should dams be taken down? When should they be repaired? Engineers must consider the services that each dam provides and the environmental impact that each dam creates before they make this decision -- and this isn't easy. Oftentimes, there is no right answer.
Now that you know more about different types of dams, make some of your own decisions about troubled dams in the Dam Challenge!
There's even more to explore at the BUILDING BIG web site, check it out at www.pbs.org/buildingbig.
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