| Types of dams | ||
| The following types of dam can be located according to the kind of valley, soil type and materials available on site: | ||
| Arch dam Its horizontally and vertically arched shape enables the water pressure to be transferred on the valley sides. It should therefore have a strong foundation on rock. |
 Naret 1 arch dam (Switzerland) |
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| Gravity dam The concrete mass used in its construction is adequate to contain the water pressure. Its triangular cross section is clearly thicker at the base than an arch dam. |
 Grande Dixence gravity dam (Switzerland) |
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| Buttress dam This consists of an impervious concrete wall supported by buttresses which transfer the loads to the foundation. Economies of concrete volume can be made with this type of structure. |
 Ekbatan buttress dam (Iran) |
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| Multiple arch dam Like buttress dams it consists of an upstream concrete wall, but is supported by multiple small arches which transfer the loads to the foundation. |
 Manic 5 multiple arch dam (Canada) |
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| Embankment dam (rockfill or earthfill) This type of dam consists of an impervious core between shells made of rockfill or earthfill. Another solution consists in an upstream impervious slab resting on a rockfill body. Because the constituent materials are deformable, it may also be founded on ground with rock as well as sandy or gravelly ground. |
 Karkeh rockfill dam (Iran) |
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