"No generation before ours would have asked the question, 'Can we save earth's rivers?' It has an ominous ring: How can it possibly be up to us to save earths rivers? But the degree of our dominion over rivers has put us in exactly this position. Two-thirds of all rivers are no longer controlled by nature, but by us!" Chongqing Three Gorges Dam Flood Control Flood Control Power Generation Power Generation Navigation Improvement Navigation Improvement Fishery in the reservoir Fishery in the reservoir Tourism and Recreational activities Tourism and Recreational activities The dam will generate thousands of megawatts of electricity to meet Chinas growing energy needs. The dam will aid navigation on the waterway by flooding the river areas which are dangerous. It is designed to generate over 18,000 megawatts of electricity, providing electricity to rural Chinese provinces, and to provide flood management and improved navigation for the upper Yangtze River. A boat navigates the Yangtze River through gorges that will be flooded when the $36-75 billion Three Gorges Dam is completed in 2009. Construction Site May Three Gorges Dam Ship locks for river traffic to bypass the dam. Environmental: Water pollution is at a serious level due to the filling of the reservoir with washing trash b/c of the now slower moving Yangtze below the dam Environmental: Water pollution is at a serious level due to the filling of the reservoir with washing trash b/c of the now slower moving Yangtze below the dam Something s wrong here 2 million people will be affected by the building of the Three Gorges Dam. The people that are living on the plains will have to move at least 50 feet higher as the plains will be under water after the dam floods. It is going to be the biggest dam in the world. 15 tons of dirt covers the site every day. The water behind the dam is diverted from its course with the use of rock or rubble or temporary dams (coffer dam) in order to dry the riverbed and lay the foundation. 1.24 mile-wide structure across the Yangtze R mile-wide structure across the Yangtze R. 6,864 feet, 5 times as wide as Hoover Dam 6,864 feet, 5 times as wide as Hoover Dam 26 million tons of concrete and 250,000 tons of steel. 26 million tons of concrete and 250,000 tons of steel. 610 feet above the valley floor. 610 feet above the valley floor. Upstream navigation Auxiliary Dam Main Dam One of the villages that was destroyed One of the towns that was destroyed The city of Wushan rises from the banks of the Yangtze River. In 2009, the area beneath the arrow drawn on the photo will be under water. Smoke and dust rise after demolition efforts begin in the town of Guizhou in Central Chinas Hubei Province to make way for the Three Gorges Dam Project. Possible Cavitation There is no proven method for dealing with sediment problems; still in the earliest stages of development. There is no proven method for dealing with sediment problems; still in the earliest stages of development. Sedimentation could substantially impair the performance of the project in its economic lifetime. Sedimentation could substantially impair the performance of the project in its economic lifetime. Sedimentation/Siltation Harbor at Chongqing Landslides Sewage & Pollution Change of Water Temperature Dam Failure Earthquakes Coastal Erosion & Climate Change Terrorists Target Resettlement Flooded Ecological Treasures Habitat Destruction Cost / Financing Historical Sites submerged or relocated Silt remains could take place behind the dam. This may negate any river navigation benefits gained by the flooding. The lock mechanisms needed to move vessels past the dam have not been thoroughly tested. Approximately 2 million residents of the Hubei and Sichuan provinces of China will need to be relocated. It threatens with extinction endangered animal species unique to the region such as the Siberian White Crane and the Yangtze River dolphin. There will be a loss of over 100 sites of cultural and historical significance due to reservoir creation. A special city on the Yangtze is being built to house the employees of the project. These ancient writings on the walls of a gorge along the Yangtze River will be lost when the water rises following the completion of the Three Gorges Dam in 2009. 2003 Last chance to take pictures of this ancient poem that speaks of the glory and grandness of Kuimen. 54,000 acres of farmland, and 17,000 acres of forest will be flooded by the reservoir. Water pollution will increase due to river flow reduction. There will be a possible loss of aquatic species. Another possible loss of nutrient rich agricultural sediments. Possible saltwater contamination into the drinking water supply. Infamous The Three Gorges Dam is now the worlds most notorious dam. The massive project sets records for Number of People Displaced - 2 million+ Number of People Displaced - 2 million+ Number of Cities & Towns Flooded - 13 cities, 140 towns, 1,350 villages Number of Cities & Towns Flooded - 13 cities, 140 towns, 1,350 villages Length of Reservoir - almost 600 miles Length of Reservoir - almost 600 miles Chinese citizens and top government officials are awakening to the negative impacts of big dams like Three Gorges. However, this has failed to curb the governments domestic and global dam building activities. Infamous Yet this once glittering monument to Chinas might is fast becoming a symbol of government folly. The project has been beset by: Corruption Corruption Human Rights Violations Human Rights Violations Spiraling Costs Spiraling Costs And the Environmental Impacts are rapidly escalating! And the Environmental Impacts are rapidly escalating! The Chinese say, If you havent traveled up the great Yangtze, you havent been anywhere.