Hard Engineering Case Study - Three Gorges Dam Flashcards
Where is the Three Gorges Dam?
On the Yangtze River, China
How big is the dam?
181m tall and 2.3km across
How much land was flooded to build the dam?
632km2
How many settlements were destroyed?
13 cities, 140 towns and 4500 villages
How much did the dam cost?
£25.5billion
When was the dam completed?
2003
What was a social benefit of the dam?
The people living downstream were no longer flooded as severely or as often because the volume of water could be controlled
What is an economic benefit of the dam?
It is the largest source of hydroelectric power in the world, producing a 11% of China’s electricity
How is a social disadvantage counteracted by a social advantage?
Although 100,000 people were forced to move, millions were saved from severe flooding downstream
How does the dam benefit trade?
The river can now carry much larger cargo ships, so more goods can be transported and sold
The dam produces the same amount of electricity as…
…50 million tonnes of coal
How else does the dam impact the economy?
- Tourists come to visit it
- China doesn’t have to buy the equivalent 50 million tonnes of coal to produce electricity
- Boats and tourist cruisers are popular
What environmental benefits does the dam have?
- No burning of fossil fuels
- Renewable energy
- No contribution to global warming
How are local farmers benefited?
The dam system provides irrigation to grow crops
What are the environmental disadvantages of the dam?
- Water levels are fluctuating, meaning that the valley sides are saturated, making land slides common
- Industrial and human waste carried by the river gets stuck in the reservoir
What is a social effect of the landslides?
Many houses and buildings have fallen into the river because of them
Why is the amount of water the reservoir can hold decreased?
250 million tonnes of waste gets stuck in the reservoir, taking up volume
What could happen in the event of an earthquake?
The dam could rupture, leading to mass floods
What is the effect on endangered animals such as the pink river dolphin?
They cannot move down the river, decreasing their numbers
How much money was set side to help relocate those who had to be moved?
$30 million
What happened to the money set aside to help relocate people?
It was taken by China’s corrupt officials
