Case Study: Dam Build Flashcards
Which case study is this?
3 Gorges Dam
Geographical infos
-On the Yangtze River in China
-the largest dam in the world
-source is himalayas
-severe flooding
-over 300,000 deaths
-30bn damage
List all the benefits
- hydropower
- flood control
- water supply
- storing water
-less reliance on coal - tourist attraction
-economic benefits
List all the drawbacks
- loss of heritage
- loss of biodiversity
- loss of farmland
- relocation of settlements
- pollution
How many people were relocated?
1.2 million
How much of the energy that China needs is provided by the dam?
15%
How much water does the dam store?
40 billion m^3
Discuss flood control and additional factors
The dam slows down the river flow, protecting the middle and lower course from floods.
This protects people from the 1/100-year floods
Discuss the issue of relocation due to building the dam
1.2 people were relocated due to the building of the dam.
- sacred temples and villages were destroyed, loss of heritage (staying in the same place forever also)
- significance of the 3 gorges
In what ways is the hydropower that the dams produce important?
-provide employment (management)
- make up for 15% of energy demand
economic growth of the city
What caused and what are the effects of the loss of farmland?
Farmland and vegetation were occupied and destroyed through the building of the dam
- 30-60% of sediment is trapped behind the dam
DECREASES BIODIVERSITY
- less nutrients for farm and aquatic plants
- economic losses/ consequences
Discuss the flooding that happened during the building stage of the dam
Settlements and entire cities flooded
- factories/industry was flooded, which resulted in toxic waste that was washed into the river
What is a general issue with all dams?
The rupture of large dams can result in earthquakes
- loss of ecosystems
What species has become endangered due to the 3 gorges dam?
The river dolphin
