Queen Sirikit Dam

Queen Sirikit Dam is a large earthfill dam on the Nan River in Tha Pla District, Uttaradit Province, northern Thailand. Completed in 1972 and named in honour of Queen Sirikit Kitiyakara, it is Thailand's largest earthfill dam. The dam creates a vast reservoir used for hydroelectric power generation, irrigation and flood control. Operated by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, it features a crest viewpoint, exhibition centre and scenic reservoir surrounded by forested mountains.

Visitors can expect a large earthfill dam with a crest road and viewpoint overlooking the Nan River reservoir and surrounding forested mountains. The site includes a visitor exhibition centre explaining dam construction and power generation, landscaped grounds, and a reservoir area where sightseeing boat trips are available. The environment is open and scenic, with photo spots, gardens, and views of the spillway and power station from designated areas.

Construction began in 1968 on the Nan River at Pha Som and was completed in 1972 as a multipurpose project for power generation, irrigation and flood control. Originally called Pha Som Dam, it was granted the name Queen Sirikit Dam in honour of Queen Sirikit Kitiyakara and inaugurated in 1977. Operated by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), it remains Thailand's largest earthfill dam with an installed hydroelectric capacity of 500 MW.

The dam is named in honour of Queen Sirikit Kitiyakara and is regarded as a major royal-initiated development project symbolizing water management and rural development in northern Thailand. It is a well-known landmark in Uttaradit Province and an educational site for water and energy management.