The Nurek (Norak) Dam (Tajik: Нерӯгоҳи обии Норак, Nerūgohi obii Norak, Tajiki for 'Nurek Hydro-electric Station') is a large earth fill dam located at 38.3715 N, 69.3492 E on the Vakhsh River in the central Asian nation of Tajikistan. At 300 meters (984 ft), it is the tallest dam in the world as of 2005[update]. (The Rogun Dam, under construction along the Vakhsh also in Tajikistan, is expected to exceed the Nurek when completed, at a planned height of 335 meters (1,099 ft)). Construction of the dam began in 1961 and was completed in 1980, when Tajikistan was still a republic within the Soviet Union. (Full article...)