<P> Most of the U.S. 's taller dams are located in the west because of the steeper and more rugged topography . The tallest is Oroville Dam in northern California , a 770.5 - foot ( 234.8 m ) embankment dam completed in 1968 . Five of the ten highest dams in the U.S. are located in California . The Colorado , Columbia and Sacramento -- San Joaquin river systems contain the greatest number of high dams . In the eastern U.S. , tall dams are less common because of the lesser vertical relief . The tallest dam in the eastern U.S. is 480 - foot ( 150 m ) Fontana Dam in North Carolina , which ranks 20th in height among all U.S. dams . </P>
<P> Most of the U.S. 's taller dams are located in the west because of the steeper and more rugged topography . The tallest is Oroville Dam in northern California , a 770.5 - foot ( 234.8 m ) embankment dam completed in 1968 . Five of the ten highest dams in the U.S. are located in California . The Colorado , Columbia and Sacramento -- San Joaquin river systems contain the greatest number of high dams . In the eastern U.S. , tall dams are less common because of the lesser vertical relief . The tallest dam in the eastern U.S. is 480 - foot ( 150 m ) Fontana Dam in North Carolina , which ranks 20th in height among all U.S. dams . </P>
what 's the largest dam in the united states
what 's the largest dam in the united states
Oroville Dam
Oroville Dam