3 Gorges Dam (hard engineering) Flashcards
Height
600ft
Length
1 mile
Reservoir
350 miles
Cost
$38 billion to build (bad- costs a lot, could have been spent elsewhere) (good- multiplier effect, provides power –> economic growth, flood protection)
What does it provide for farmers
Irrigation
How many employed
40,000 for 17 years
How much shipping can now be moved
50 million tons vs 10 million
How much electricity provided from HE
10% of China’s electricity (they produce more than all of UK nuclear PPs)
Where was flooding stopped
Downstream
How many people protected from flooding
50 million (15 million having the risk decreased)
Where are water supplies now secure
For the 13 million in Shanghai
Why is HEP so good
Clean and no pollution
Where will economic growth be boosted
Shanghai and Wuhan
How many died in floods 2010
Approx 700 but would have been worse if no dam
Where has it increased pollution
In downstream settlements
How many sites of interest destroyed
1.2K
How many relocated
1.2 million
How many towns, villages and factories under water
100 towns, 1.6K villages, 300 factories
What has been building up behind the dam
Industrial waste, natural materials, human waste, dirty water
Significance of silt downstream
Could lead to sinking of Yangtze Delta- eroded by sea- many flooded risking flooding for many cities including Shanghai
Cost of each generator
$50 million
What has the reservoir caused
Landslides, earthquakes, more waste and materials into water behind dam
