The main part of Artax dam, the biggest water-control project in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, was completed on May 29, construction authorities announced on Tuesday.

The project, which was launched in 2015, is located on the border of Yarkan county, Kashgar prefecture, and Aktaw county, Kezilesu Kirgiz autonomous prefecture.

The government invested 11 billion yuan ($1.6 billion) in the project.

Construction authorities said that once the dam is completed, functions such as flood control, irrigation and ecological protection will be brought into play in the lower reaches of the Yarkant River in mountainous areas.