How did the Euphrates Dam create Lake Assad in Syria?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Map showing the Tigris and Euphrates river basin and its drainage network across Turkey, Syria, and Iraq, with color shading for elevation, major dams, canals, lakes, and boundaries with neighboring countries. The green areas indicate lower elevations along the river valleys, while higher elevations are shaded in brown and orange. A small locator map in the corner shows the basin's position within the Middle East. — Tigris-Euphrates river system The Tigris and Euphrates river basin and its drainage network.

The Euphrates Dam, an earth-fill structure located in north-central Syria, created Lake Assad by impounding the waters of the Euphrates River.21

Construction of the dam began in 1968 and was completed in 1973, at which point the reservoir began filling. Situated upriver from the town of Al-Thawrah (also known as Ṭabaqah), the dam stands approximately 197 feet (60 meters) high and spans 2.8 miles (4.5 kilometers) in length. At its fullest extent, Lake Assad reaches about 50 miles (80 kilometers) in length and averages 5 miles (8 kilometers) in width. The project serves multiple purposes, including the generation of electricity and the support of various irrigation schemes.21