Grande Dixence Dam

#396 among destinations in Switzerland

Dam, Bridge

Gallery (2)

Map

Gallery

Facts and practical information

The Grande Dixence Dam is a concrete gravity dam on the Dixence at the head of the Val d'Hérémence in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. At 285 m high, it is the tallest gravity dam in the world, fifth tallest dam overall, and the tallest dam in Europe. It is part of the Cleuson-Dixence Complex. With the primary purpose of hydroelectric power generation, the dam fuels four power stations, totaling the installed capacity to 2,069 MW, generating approximately 2,000 GWh annually, enough to power 400,000 Swiss households. ()

Alternative names: Opened: 1961 (63 years ago)Length: 2297 ftHeight: 935 ftReservoir area: 1.54 mi²Reservoir depth: 932 ftCoordinates: 46°4'52"N, 7°24'12"E

Location

ValaisSwitzerland

Contact

+41 27 775 51 09

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Day trips

Grande Dixence Dam – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Lac de Cleuson, Lac de Louvie, Mont Fort, Lac du Grand Désert.

4.2 miNW
Nature, Natural attraction, Lake
Lac de Cleuson
108 min walk • Lac de Cleuson is a reservoir in the municipality of Nendaz, Valais, Switzerland. Its surface area is 0.51 km². Water from the reservoir is often pumped into the Grande Dixence Dam's reservoir, Lac des Dix, for use in hydroelectricity production.
5 miSW
Nature, Natural attraction, Lake
Lac de Louvie
127 min walk • Lac de Louvie is a lake above Fionnay in the canton of Valais, Switzerland. The Lac de Louvie is paradise for all nature lovers such as trail runners and hikers. It is Situated at 2,213 metres above sea level and it’s a 2 hour walk from Fionnay.
4.5 miW
Nature, Natural attraction, Mountain
Mont Fort
114 min walk • Mont Fort is a mountain of the Pennine Alps, located near Verbier in the Swiss canton of Valais. It lies on the range between the valleys of Bagnes and Nendaz, north of the Rosablanche.
3.3 miW
Nature, Natural attraction, Lake
Lac du Grand Désert
84 min walk • Lac du Grand Désert is a lake in the canton of Valais, Switzerland. It is located at an elevation of 2642 m, fed by the Grand Désert Glacier.
2.7 miSW
Nature, Natural attraction, Mountain
Rosablanche
70 min walk • The Rosablanche is a mountain of the Swiss Pennine Alps, overlooking the Lac des Dix in the canton of Valais. It lies on the range between the valleys of Bagnes and Hérémence, north of Le Pleureur.
4.9 miS
Nature, Natural attraction, Mountain
La Luette
126 min walk • La Luette is a mountain of the Pennine Alps, located between the valleys of Bagnes and Hérens in the canton of Valais. It lies just south of Le Pleureur.
2.6 miNE
Nature, Natural attraction, Mountain
Pic d'Artsinol
67 min walk • Pic d'Artsinol is a mountain of the Pennine Alps, located west of Evolène in the canton of Valais.
1.3 miSE
Nature, Natural attraction, Mountain
Pointe de Vouasson
32 min walk • The Pointe de Vouasson is a mountain of the Swiss Pennine Alps, overlooking Lac des Dix in the canton of Valais. It lies between the valleys of Hérémence and Arolla, north of the Aiguilles Rouges d'Arolla.
3.5 miSE
Nature, Natural attraction, Mountain
La Cassorte
89 min walk • La Cassorte is a mountain of the Swiss Pennine Alps, located west of Arolla in the canton of Valais. It lies on the range between the Lac des Dix and the Val d'Arolla, south of the Aiguilles Rouges d'Arolla.
2.3 miSE
Nature, Natural attraction, Mountain
Aiguilles Rouges d'Arolla
58 min walk • The Aiguilles Rouges d'Arolla are a multi-summited mountain of the Swiss Pennine Alps, located west of Arolla in the canton of Valais. The main summit has an elevation of 3,646 metres above sea level.
4.9 miS
Alpine hut, Hiking
Dix Hut
125 min walk • The Dix Hut is a mountain hut of the Swiss Alpine Club, located south of Hérémence in the canton of Valais. The hut lies above the Cheilon Glacier, at a height of 2,928 metres above sea level, approximately halfway between the Lac des Dix and the Mont Blanc de Cheilon.