Freshwater: 3 Gorges Dam Contemporary dam building expansion in one major drainage basin

Question 1

Cost of dam

Answer 1

US$22 billion - spent on construction, relocation of residents and financing

Question 2

Reduced CO2 emissions by…

Answer 2

10 million tonnes

Question 3

When did the construction start?

Answer 3

1994

Question 4

What are the advantages of the dam?

Answer 4

• Provided flood storage space. Flooding is a major problem for the seasonal river of the Yangtze.
• Millions of people live downstream of the dam, large important cities, farm and industry = situated adjacent to the river = no floods
• Hydropower saves the energy needed to mine, wash and transport the coal from northern China.
• Renewable source of energy

Question 5

What are the disadvantages of the dam?

Answer 5

• Flooded 1,300 archaeological and cultural sites
• Displaced 1.3 million people
• Landslide killed 13 farmers
• 80% of the land in the area is experiencing erosion = deposition
• Dam sits on a seismic fault = could be blamed for increased seismic activity
• Erosion in the reservoir, induced by rising water, causes frequent major landslides.
o 2010: 97 significant landslides.
• Fish are affected by dams due to change in temperature and flow regime. Fish are hurt in the turbine blades of the HEP plants.
• Dam contributed to the extinction of the Yangtze River Dolphin, due to decreased habitat and increased ship travel.