1. Three Gorges Dam

2. Should China have built the Three Gorges Dam?
Question
Should China have built the Three Gorges Dam?
Clip art from Microsoft XP.

3. Agenda
Background
Pros
Cons
Decision
Questions and Answers

4. Background The Yangtze River is the third longest river in the world
Damming the river where the Qutang, Wuxia, Xiling Gorges meet (Three Gorges)
Approved in 1989 for construction
Project began in 1993
Water level reached 175 m deep and 600 km long
Completed by 2001, opened 2003.

5. Construction Site

6. Construction of Dam

7. Construction of Dam

8. Pros Flood control Power generation Navigation Water Diversion
Environmental Protection
Economic Boost

9. Flood control
The Yangtze has claimed more than 1 million lives in past 100 years
Prevent catastrophic flooding
Lessen the frequency of big downstream floods from once every 10 years to once every 100 years
Preserve:
Large amount of farmland
15 million people's safety
Properties in the downstream area
The risk that the dam will increase flooding is remote

10. Power generation 26 generators will produce 18.2M Kilowatts of energy
Create as much energy as 18 nuclear power plants or the burning of 40 million tons of coal
Electrical power from dam will provide up to one-ninth of China’s output.
Power is to be sent through transmission lines mostly to eastern and central China to solve energy shortages there
Beginning of water storage

11. Navigation
A 10,000 ton vessel can sail in interior for six months out of each year
Would increase river shipping from 10 million to 50 million tons annually
Transportation costs cut by 30 to 37 percent
Shipping would become safer
The Regal China cruise ship arriving

12. Resettled child in Ling Bao village
Water Diversion
Droughts have effected irrigation and farmlands
Three Gorges Dam will provide a balance in water distribution
Water in abundant areas will be redirected to areas of drought
Resettled child in Ling Bao village

13. Environmental Protection
Clean energy source
Coal accounts for three quarters of country’s energy
Reduce acid rain and global warming
Clip art from Microsoft XP.

14. Economic Boost Increase in shipping and commerce
Development of urban areas, factories and homes require electricity
Three Gorges artifacts preserved to increase tourism
Tourism of the Dam
Yangtze River: A pagoda overlooking the river, near the Three Gorges dam. Photo: Chris Stowers/Panos Pictures

15. Cons Cost Environmental Impact Time Constraints Relocation of people
Economic Strain
Cultural Loss

16. Cost The dam cost approximately $24 Billion and strain China’s economy
Clip art from Microsoft XP.

17. Environmental Impact Area around the dam is very beautiful
Different species of plants and animals will perish
Worsen pollution by trapping sewage and industrial waste
Little to no attempts to move toxic waste and other potential pollutants that will inundate the river

18. Time Constraints
Erosion and a non-ideal foundation, adds time onto project.
The project could be subject to a foreign or military attack.
A construction worker prepares the hills for the reservoir.

19. Relocation of people 1.13M migrants will be forced out of their homes
Violation of Human Rights
Discrimination
Unsatisfactory living conditions
Fewer job opportunities
No channels to express dissatisfaction
Corruption of funds
People moving from their homes.

20. Economic Strain Flooding of the most fertile agricultural lands
The effect on both the migrating and the host community
Shortage of farmland
Unemployment
Decline in house hold income
Learning a new lifestyle (educational and technical skills)
Ling Bao village, a model resettlement village, 30km from the city of Yichang in Hubei province. The damsite is about 60 km west of Yichang city.

21. Cultural Loss Culture as a product of the environment
Learning new technologies
1,300 Archeological sites would be destroyed
Destroy the legendary beauty of the scenery
Reduce tourism revenue

22. Decision
Was building the Three Gorges Dam the right idea? Why or why not?

23. Questions