Norak Dam, Earth-fill embankment dam with hydroelectric power station in Norak District, Tajikistan
Norak Dam is an earth-fill embankment structure with a hydroelectric power station located in Norak District, rising 300 meters above the Vakhsh River. The facility houses nine hydroelectric generating units and creates the nation's largest reservoir.
Construction started in 1961 under Soviet direction and was completed in 1980, representing a major engineering feat of the era. The project required relocating approximately 5000 people from the area that would become the reservoir.
The settlement at the dam grew as a residential area for the engineers and technical workers involved in the project. The town displays typical Soviet-era planning with its apartment blocks and shared community spaces.
The best time to visit is during the warmer months when roads are most passable and weather remains stable. The dam itself is visible from the main road, with several viewpoints offering views across the entire structure.
After completion, it was the world's tallest dam, holding that title until 2013. Today the facility generates roughly 70 percent of the nation's electrical power and remains critical to the country's energy needs.
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