Lam Pao Dam

Lam Pao Dam is an earth-fill dam and reservoir on the Lam Pao River in Sahatsakhan District, Kalasin Province, northeastern Thailand. Completed in 1968, it impounds one of the largest reservoirs in Isan, built for irrigation, flood control and fisheries. The dam features an earthen embankment, spillway, lakeside park, viewpoint and sandy beach area. It is notable for its vast water expanse, sunset views and role in supporting agriculture and local recreation.

Visitors can expect a long earthen dam embankment with a road on the crest, a large freshwater reservoir, and landscaped park areas on the shore. The site includes viewpoints over the water, a sandy beach area known as Hat Dok Koon, picnic lawns, food stalls and fishing spots. The surroundings are open and rural with agricultural land, and the reservoir is used for boating and lakeside leisure. Facilities are simple and focused on sightseeing, photography and relaxation by the water.

Lam Pao Dam was constructed between 1963 and 1968 by the Royal Irrigation Department as a major irrigation and flood-control project for the Lam Pao River basin. The earth-fill dam was inaugurated in 1968 and created a large reservoir to support agriculture in Kalasin and surrounding provinces, as well as fisheries and water supply.

The reservoir is central to local livelihoods in Kalasin, supporting irrigated rice farming, freshwater fisheries and community recreation. The dam and its beach park serve as a popular local gathering place for festivals, picnics and leisure, reflecting the importance of water management in Isan's agricultural culture.