KQ3: What are the social, economic and environmental issues associated with the increasing demand for energy? Flashcards
where is the 3 gorges dam
on the yangtze river, china
when was 3 gorges completed
2009
width of 3 gorges
2km wide
height of 3 gorges
200m wide
how many generators on 3 gorges dam
26
how much did 3 gorges cost
$20 billion
how large is the resevoir created by 3 gorges
66km long
what energy does 3 gorges create
HEP
3 gorges Social issue: placment of dam
• 1.3 million people forced to move because their homes were going to flood
3 gorges Social issue: rehabilitation
100’s of new towns and cities have been built along the reservoir, built too quickly - bad quality housing, poor living conditions
3 gorges Social issue: health risks
Chongqing, industral city leaks pollutants into resevoir, causing health risks
3 gorges economic issue: cost
very expensive to build (£20 billion) and needs (dredging, re-inforcing valley sides)
3 gorges economic issue: land lost
livliehoods of farmers lost, land became resevoir
3 gorges evironmental issue:
some plants and fish cant survive in new slow flowing water
3 gorges evironmental issue:
agricultural land lost
3 gorges evironmental issue:
sediment blocked by dam-> less deposoition downstream –> more erosion
3 gorges Social issue: loss of culture
800 cultural and historical sites underwater
3 gorges social benefit: cheap energy
cheap energy
3 gorges social benefit: infastructure
govt. supported development of new towns–> massive infastructure development
3 gorges social benefit: pride
dam is a souce of national pride
3 gorges social benefit: flood risk
less flood risk downstream, lower death tolls and financial losses
3 gorges economic benefit: improved river transport
more trade from Chongqing (31 million people) to coast
3 gorges economic benefit: energy supply
can supply 100 billion kilawatts/hour for industry and domestic use
3 gorges economic benefit: job creation
construction, maintainance, dam material suppliers
