Britannica Sources used in this answer

Where is Tarbela Dam located and why was it built?

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Physical map showing the Indus River basin and its drainage network across parts of Pakistan, India, China, and Afghanistan. The map details river courses, tributaries, canals, dams, irrigated and marsh areas, sand regions, and elevation changes with shaded relief. International, disputed, and control boundaries are marked, and a small locator map in the corner shows the basin's position within South Asia. — Indus River The Indus River basin and its drainage network.

The Tarbela Dam is located on the Indus River within the Haripur and Swabi districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan.12

It was constructed as a major component of the Indus Basin Project, which followed the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan. The primary purpose of the dam, along with the Mangla Dam, was to control seasonal fluctuations of the Indus River system. By regulating water flow, the project supports hydroelectric power generation and water management for the region.2