Three Gorges Dam

Three Gorges Dam is a dam on the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) in Hubei Province, China, located immediately west of the city of Yichang. This China dam was the greatest engineering project when it first began construction in 1994. It was the biggest dam in the world at the time of its completion in 2006. The dam and related hydropower plant were constructed in stages over several years. In 2012, it attained its maximum generation capacity. The dam allows ocean-going freighters to navigate and generates hydroelectric electricity. 

It was also designed to provide flood protection, although its effectiveness on this front is unknown and has been contested. While the Three Gorges Dam was an engineering accomplishment, it was also plagued with controversy: the dam’s construction resulted in the displacement of at least 1.3 million people as well as the loss of natural features and several unique architectural and archaeological monuments. The reservoir of the dam is being blamed for an increase in the number of landslides and earthquakes in the area.

Layout of Three Gorges Dam of China

The concrete gravity dam for the Three Gorges project has a crest elevation of 185 metres and a maximum height of 175 metres. The dam axis is 2,309.47 metres long, which is longer than the well-known Grand Coulee Dam in the United States. The 483-metre spillway, which is positioned in the centre of the main dam, has 23 79-metre bottom exits. The 22 surface sluice gates are each 8 metres wide. The Three Gorges Dam’s maximum discharge volume is 116,000 cubic metres, making it the world’s largest.

Two powerhouses on either side of the spillway host a total of 26 turbine generators. Each unit has a generating capacity of 700 megawatt (MW) and is the world’s largest unit ever built. Fourteen sets of generators are housed in the 643.6-metre-long left powerhouse, which is 60 metres longer than the 584.2-metre-long right one. The Three Gorges project is planned to generate 84.7 TW/h of power with all of these massive turbines.

Three Gorges Dam Facts

The Three Gorges Dam is the world’s biggest power generation facility as well as the world's largest hydroelectric dam. The dam was built for a variety of reasons, including its historical significance and other factors. The Three Gorges Dam was erected across the Yangtze River to regulate the quantity of water that could pass through. This resulted in the formation of a gigantic artificial lake, which has become a popular international tourist destination. The construction of a dam on the Yangtze River had been planned since 1919, but the Civil War and Cultural Revolution put the project on hold until recently.

Flooding: One of the primary objectives for the construction of the Three Gorges Dam was to prevent floods further downstream. The necessity for a dam was underscored in 1954, when the Yangtze River flooded, killing hundreds of people.

Power Generation: Another purpose for the construction of this China dam was to generate power. Within the dam, numerous generators create power by using the potential energy held in the water.

Environmental Impact: The dam has been constructed to have as little influence on the environment as feasible. Some ancient objects have been lost or are no longer accessible as a result of this. However, it is said that the environmental impact is minimal.

Visiting the Dam: The dam is a major tourist attraction as well as a means of saving lives and generating power. Thousands of people visit each year since it is the world’s biggest hydroelectric dam. 

Impacts of the Dam

Landscape and cultural heritage: Higher water levels and a broader passage after reservoir impoundment would alter the canyon’s landscape to some extent. Mountains and summits along the sides of the gorges range in elevation from 800 to 1,100 metres. The famed 12 peaks of Wuxi a Gorge have altitudes of roughly 1,000 metres. The most famous Goddess Peak rises more than 900 metres above sea level. The reservoir’s regular pool level of 175 metres will result in an elevation of 40–110 metres higher in the Gorges than is now the case. Even though the rapids and dangerous shoals will be removed, the steep canyon encircling the river basin will remain mostly unaltered. Improved navigation conditions will provide access to new picturesque sights, such as the "Lesser Three Gorges" along the Daning River. The majestic Three Gorges Project will undoubtedly become a new tourism hotspot.

Environmental: Dam supporters highlight the dam’s environmental benefits, including the availability of hydroelectric electricity, which is significantly cleaner than the coal-burning power on which China has relied largely for decades. They claim the dam will cut greenhouse gas emissions by lowering coal consumption (thereby safeguarding the ozone layer) while posing none of the radiation risks associated with nuclear power facilities.

Three Gorges Dam Problems

The threat of dam failure, the displacement of 1.3 million people (critics claimed 1.9 million) living in more than 1,500 cities, towns and villages along the river and the ruin of stunning landscape and innumerable important architectural and archaeological treasures were among the major issues. There were also worries, some of which were realised, that human and industrial waste from cities would poison the reservoir and that the massive volume of water stored in the reservoir would cause earthquakes and landslides.

Some Chinese and European engineers contended that a series of smaller, considerably cheaper and less problematic dams on Yangtze tributaries might generate as much electricity as the Three Gorges Dam while controlling floods just as effectively. They said that building those dams will allow the government to accomplish its key aims without danger. Because of these issues, work on the Three Gorges Dam was put on hold for over 40 years while the Chinese government tried to decide whether or not to proceed with the project's designs. However, the Three Gorges project pushed forwards and was completed in late 2015, with formal operations beginning in 2016.