What is the oldest dam in the United States?

A dam is defined as a barrier constructed to hold back water and raise its level, forming a reservoir used to generate electricity or as a water supply. The oldest dam in America is Old Oaken Bucket Pond Dam. It was built in 1640 and is located in Scituate, Massachusetts.



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Hoover Dam is the most famous dam in the US. It was constructed during the Great Depression, beginning in 1931, and was completed in 1936.

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The worst dam failure in the United States was the Johnstown flood of 1889. The failure of the South Fork Dam, which affected Johnstown, is currently regarded as the worst dam failure in U.S. history.

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5 Dams in the U.S. that Hold the Most Water
  • Hoover Dam (Nevada/Arizona): 8.95 cubic miles.
  • Glen Canyon Dam (Arizona): 8.53 cubic miles.
  • Garrison Dam (North Dakota): 7.05 cubic miles.
  • Oahe Dam (South Dakota): 6.98 cubic miles.
  • Fort Peck Dam (Montana): 5.52 cubic miles.


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Hoover Dam is one of the most iconic dams around the world, stretching between the American states of Nevada and Arizona. Originally called the Boulder Dam, this colossal structure stands at a height of 726 feet (221.4 mt), with a base width of 656 feet (200 mt) and a crest width of 46 feet (14 mt).

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Between the years 2000 and 2009 more than 200 notable dam failures happened worldwide. The reservoir emptying through the failed Teton Dam Ruins of the dam of Vega de Tera (Spain) after breaking in 1959.

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Parker Dam is a concrete arch structure commonly called the 'deepest dam in the world'.

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A study by the World Commission on Dams placed China's large dam total at over 22,000-the most in the world. Large dams are those roughly four stories or taller. Most of China's were built after 1949.

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Located in the Central Asian nation of Tajikistan, the Usoi Dam is a feat of natural engineering. The dam's story reminds us of nature's astonishing power. At a whopping 1,860 feet (567 meters) tall, the Usoi Dam is by far the tallest in the world—more than two and a half times as high as the better-known Hoover Dam.

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Today, the Hoover Dam is the second highest dam in the country and the 18th highest in the world. It generates more than four billion kilowatt-hours a year -- that's enough to serve 1.3 million people! Here's how this dam stacks up against some of the biggest dams in the world.

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