The Damming of the Yangtze River Essay -- Three Gorges Dam China Essay

The dikeming of the Yangtze RiverSince the 1920s, when the jam was first proposed, the threesome Gorges dam up has been a way out for debate in the Peoples Republic of China. The facial expression of the worlds largest hydro-electric visualise on the Yangtze River would be a detriment to the native flora and fauna, submerge rich farmlands, remove archaeological sites, and force the evacuation of millions of people. Faced with international, as well as domestic, criticism about the ecological and social havoc the cardinal Gorges Dam would cause, the government of China has remained unnerved and has started construction on this highly shady project. In December of 1995, Chinese Premier Li Peng officially launched the project at a construction site at Sandouping. However, the fight is not over yet since it will take close to twenty long time to finish this massive water project. The Yangtze River is the third largest river in the world, spanning a distance of 6,300 kilometre s. Construction of this dam would be along a 200 kilometer stretch in the upper reaches of the river known as Three Gorges. The Xiling, Wu, and Qutang Gorges, jointly called the Three Gorges, contain some off the most scenic and beautiful landscape in the world. However, with the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, most of this awe-inspiring aspect would be submerged and lost forever. Never before has a dam of such magnitude ever been attempted in the world. The Three Gorges Dam will stretch 2-kilometers (1.3 miles) across the Yangtze River, tower 185 meters into the air (610 feet), and create a 600-kilometer (385 miles) reservoir behind it (Probe International). It will also be the most expensive dam ever built once, and if, it is completed. Estimated costs of... ...erms of electricity and flood control. From the construction that has gone underway and from the diversion of some of the Yangtze River flow, it is obvious that the Chinese government, in its child-like mine is bi gger than yours mentality, is determined to construct the largest megadam the world has ever seen. deeds CitedChilds-Johnson, Elizabeth, Joan Lebold Cohen, and Lawerence R. Sullivan. (1996, November-December). Race against time. Archaeology.Leopold, Luna B. Sediment Problems at Three Gorges Dam. Website location http//www.irn.org/programs/3g/leopold.html Probe International. Three Gorges Dam Campaign. Website location http//www.nextcity.com/ProbeInternational/Three Gorges/Topping, Audrey Ronning. Environmental controversy over the Three Gorges Dam. Earth Times News Service. Website location http//www.earthtimes.org/chinanov11.htm