Overview
The Three Gorges Dam (三峡大坝) is a monumental hydroelectric gravity dam on the Yangtze River near Yichang, Hubei Province. As the world’s largest power station by capacity (22,500 MW), it symbolizes China’s engineering prowess while sparking global debate over its ecological and societal costs.
Key Features
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Dimensions & Construction
- Length: 2,335 meters (7,660 feet); Height: 185 meters (607 feet).
- Materials: 28 million cubic meters of concrete and 463,000 metric tons of steel.
- Reservoir: Covers 600 km (375 miles) upstream, enabling oceangoing freighters to reach Chongqing.
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Functions
- Power Generation: Produced 111.88 terawatt-hours in 2020, a world record.
- Flood Control: Designed to mitigate Yangtze floods, though efficacy is debated (e.g., 2020 floods).
- Navigation: Features a ship lift (3,000-ton capacity) and five-tier locks (10,000-ton vessels).
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Timeline
- 1994–2006: Construction phases; full operation by 2012.
- 2015: Ship lift completed, the world’s largest at the time.
Controversies
- Environmental Impact: Linked to landslides, earthquakes, and habitat loss (e.g., endangered Yangtze species).
- Displacement: Over 1.3 million people relocated.
- Cultural Loss: Submerged archaeological sites and landscapes.
Tourism & Recognition
- A 5A-rated tourist site, offering views of the dam’s scale and the Yangtze’s transformed gorges.
- Listed among China’s top 30 industrial achievements.
Conclusion
The Three Gorges Dam is a feat of modern engineering with profound benefits and challenges. Its dual role as a renewable energy source and a contentious ecological intervention makes it a pivotal subject for global travelers and researchers alike.