Laxiwa Dam
The Laxiwa Dam is an arch dam on the Yellow River in Qinghai Province, northwest China. It is 32 km (20 mi) downstream of the Longyangxia Dam and 73 km (45 mi) upstream from the Lijiaxia Dam. The main purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power generation and it supports the largest station in the Yellow River basin. The facility generates power by utilizing six turbines, each with a generating capacity of 700 MW, totaling to a capacity of 4,200 MW.

By the beginning of 2004, the Yellow River was diverted and in September of that year, excavation on the dam's abutment began. In April 2006, the first concrete was cast and on May 18, 2009, the power plant's first two generators were commissioned. A total of 79,571,000 cubic metres (2.8100×109 cu ft) of earth and rock were excavated from the dam site.

Laxiwa Dam
Official name 拉西瓦大坝
Locale Guide County, Qinghai, China
Opening date 2009
Dam and spillways
Type of dam Arch dam
Height 250 m (820 ft)
Length 460 m (1,510 ft)
Volume 3,681,800 cubic metres (130,020,000 cu ft)
Impounds Yellow River
Reservoir
Creates Laxiwa Reservoir
Capacity 1,079,000,000 m3 (875,000 acre·ft)
Power station
Commission date May 18, 2009 (first two units)
Turbines 6 × 700MW
Installed capacity 4,200 MW
Annual generation 10.23 TWh (mean)