Introduction to the Three Gorges Dam

The Three Gorges Dam

The Three Gorges Dam is the largest hydroelectric dam in the world that spans the Yangtze River in Sandouping, Yichiang, Hubei, China. The construction began in 1994 and is scheduled for completion by 2009. The dam is a massive construction project which cost $25 billion. It will stretch across more than 2 km across and has a height of 185 m. Its reservoir will extend over 600 km upstream and the erection of the dam forces the displacement of more than 1.3 million people. As with many dams, there is a debate over the costs and benefits of the Three Gorges Dam. Although there are economic benefits such as flood control and hydroelectric power, there are also concerns about the future of over 1.3 million people who will be displaced by the rising waters, in addition to concerns over the loss of many valuable archaeological and cultural sites, as well as the effects on the environment.

Chinese authorities expect the dam to generate one-ninth of China’s electricity output and also to regulate the flow and water level of the Yangzi River

The construction has encountered a lot of social, economical and environmental problems. The social problems include corruption, human rights violations and resettlement difficulties. The economical problems are escalation of costs, technological problems and the threatening of China’s fishery. The environmental problems are water pollution and land pollution, both contributed by the indiscriminate dumping of garbage.

Although the dam has caused much controversy among the citizens, the China government does not accept those ideas. For example, Dai Qing, a journalist, was jailed for 10 months in 1989-90 after criticizing the Three Gorges project and also, Li Peng, the former Chinese premier and Soviet-trained engineer who led the construction of the dam.