Three Gorges Dam
The river Yangtze starts from Tibetan Plateau and flows 6380km than enters the East China Sea located north of Shanghai. The River Yangtze often caused floods but in the last few years the number of floods has increased so greatly that the Chinese authorities can’t cope with the amount of damage and deaths.
The levee protects 50 000 km² of land and several million people from flood. The Chinese authorities are worried about what could happen if the levee was to break or be overtopped. The Chinese authorities built a dam to control the flow of the river meaning control over the floods. The dam started being used in 2003. The dam is built between the three gorges of China.
Effects
Social - The main purpose of the Three Gorges Project (TGP) was to protect people from floods. Now it can protect 100 million people living downriver. Relocation. Chinese officials estimate that the reservoir will partially or completely inundate 2 cities, 11 counties, 140 towns, 326 townships,and 1351 villages. About 23800 hectares, more than 1.1 million people will have to be resettled.
Economic - The dam has a big effect on people’s standard of living because a dam of this size surely brings the electric prices down.The dam is even now being improved with added turbines the capacity will eventually reach about 22 500 MW.
The dam is also good for increasing the Yangtze Rivers shipping capacity.The ships that are heavier than 1500 tons could not use the river because the flow of the river is fast and low on water levels, exposing rocks that can damage the ships. Now with the help of the dam both water levels and speed of flow can be
controlled allowing safe navigation even for ships that are 10,000 tons.
It can protect the areas below the dam from floods by storing water and allowing it to flow when it’s needed in some dry seasons. It can protect the land even from the most destructive floods like in 1998 or worse.
Dam has the potential to submerge some of China's most famous historical scenery and tourist sites.
Environmental - The Three Gorges Dam is the world’s biggest hydroelectric power station with generating capacity of 18 200 MW. One of the most important features of the dam is that hydroelectric power is renewable and won’t damage the environment.
It will threaten the river's wildlife. The dam will alter the natural environment, and therefore, an almost infinite number of species will be affected by the project.
The dam will disrupt heavy silt flows in the river. It could cause rapid silt build-up in the reservoir, creating an imbalance upstream, and depriving agricultural land and fish downstream of essential nutrients.
Solutions
Players
Chinese government
The levee protects 50 000 km² of land and several million people from flood. The Chinese authorities are worried about what could happen if the levee was to break or be overtopped. The Chinese authorities built a dam to control the flow of the river meaning control over the floods. The dam started being used in 2003. The dam is built between the three gorges of China.
Effects
Social - The main purpose of the Three Gorges Project (TGP) was to protect people from floods. Now it can protect 100 million people living downriver. Relocation. Chinese officials estimate that the reservoir will partially or completely inundate 2 cities, 11 counties, 140 towns, 326 townships,and 1351 villages. About 23800 hectares, more than 1.1 million people will have to be resettled.
Economic - The dam has a big effect on people’s standard of living because a dam of this size surely brings the electric prices down.The dam is even now being improved with added turbines the capacity will eventually reach about 22 500 MW.
The dam is also good for increasing the Yangtze Rivers shipping capacity.The ships that are heavier than 1500 tons could not use the river because the flow of the river is fast and low on water levels, exposing rocks that can damage the ships. Now with the help of the dam both water levels and speed of flow can be
controlled allowing safe navigation even for ships that are 10,000 tons.
It can protect the areas below the dam from floods by storing water and allowing it to flow when it’s needed in some dry seasons. It can protect the land even from the most destructive floods like in 1998 or worse.
Dam has the potential to submerge some of China's most famous historical scenery and tourist sites.
Environmental - The Three Gorges Dam is the world’s biggest hydroelectric power station with generating capacity of 18 200 MW. One of the most important features of the dam is that hydroelectric power is renewable and won’t damage the environment.
It will threaten the river's wildlife. The dam will alter the natural environment, and therefore, an almost infinite number of species will be affected by the project.
The dam will disrupt heavy silt flows in the river. It could cause rapid silt build-up in the reservoir, creating an imbalance upstream, and depriving agricultural land and fish downstream of essential nutrients.
Solutions
Players
Chinese government