It was constructed for hydroelectric power production, flood control and navigation.

[3][4] The concrete power plant, navigation lock and spillway section of the dam measures 1,040 metres (3,410 ft) long while the earth-fill embankments flanking the concrete section measure 2,070 metres (6,790 ft) long on the right and 2,385 metres (7,825 ft) long on the left.

The reservoir has a catchment area of 470,000 square kilometres (180,000 sq mi) and surface area of 330 square kilometres (130 sq mi).

The average long-term flow at the dam is 6,350 cubic metres per second (224,000 cu ft/s) and the record maximum flow was 28,943 cubic metres per second (1,022,100 cu ft/s) which was reached on October 2, 1983.

[6] The dam's power station contains 14 x 110.8 megawatts (148,600 hp) generators that are powered by Kaplan turbines for a total installed capacity of 1,551.2 megawatts (2,080,200 hp).