Three Gorges Dam

Three Gorges Dam

What is the Three Gorges Dam? Why should we care about what it? These are some of the important questions to answer when talking about the world’s largest hydropower project.  The dam became fully functional on 4 July, 2012, and has cost a reported 24 billion dollars. It has the ability to produce an immense about of power, to be more precise 84.7 billion kW (unit of power equal to 1000 watts) annually. The dam is a massive 7,661 feet long, at the top, and it has a reservoir 410 mile reservoir.  It provides 20 million households electricity. To put it in context, the Three Gorges Dam is about five times larger than the Hoover Dam. This is incredible, especially if you have seen the immense size of the Hoover Dam.

Given what I have told you the Three Gorges Dam seems like a modern marvel. Not only does it help provide electricity for people, but it also helps prevent flooding. However, once you start looking at what had to happen to get the dam built and what toll it has had on the ecosystem in China things get interesting. . 

Displacement of people was the primary issue of those that opposed the dam’s approval in 1992. The construction of the dam displaced 1.5 to 4 million people. This is a large number. The people that were displaced had to leave lands that their families had occupied for years. Proper compensation was not usually given. Only a minority received enough to start a new life in a different area. Those that were not given enough were not even given help to relocate. The government sees the dam as a much needed tool for energy, and that it is a green source of energy. I, among other opposition, see it as a huge abuse of power that has led a substantial amount of people into poverty.

The dam has also been linked to something called reservoir-induced seismicity. Reservoir-induced seismicity becomes a problem when a dam is built on a fault line. The Three Gorges Dam sits on the Jiuwanxi and Zigui-Badong faults. These faults become strained because of the large amount of water on top of them. This strain creates earthquakes, which are usually small, but in some occasions can cause significant damage. Earthquakes generated by dams are nothing new. For example, California’s Oroville Dam, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada has had the same issues. However, this dam is much smaller, so it creates much less earthquakes. The government was warned of this before construction began, but they did not listen. This shows complete negligence and because of it a large amount of people could die.

Animals and plants have been threatened because of the floods generated by the dam’s placement. This is an issue because China is the home to 10% of the worlds rooted plants (vascular plants). Of that 10% about 20% are located in the dam’s vicinity. This means that a large flood could destroy a great percentage of these plants. The dam has also hurt many natural environments because it has changed flow patterns. This means that areas that used to not get flooded are, and areas that are used to getting flooded are not. Animals and plants over time evolve to the areas they are in. This means that plants grow where they are going to benefit most from the area. Animals understand patterns and stay away from risk if risk is there. However, these changes catch plants and animals off guard and result in their death. The dam water is also highly polluted which has caused fish to start dying. Fish are very important to the people of China, and pollution has been an issue in that matter for some time. Solving these problems has been a goal for many villages and outside forces, but the government and large companies within China don’t see the problem.

There is a lot that needs to be done, and people are trying. The only issue is that most of the work being done is not by those that can actually do something. Until the government realizes that this project has severe consequences the issues will continue. Even if countries such as the United States and Germany try to pressure China they will not succeed. China sees this project as something beneficial, and the government will not lose face with its people by saying that it is wrong. This goes back to Chinese history, and the government’s constant need to show that it’s able. A solution might be possible, actually it is, but it is unlikely until the government becomes more concerned.