(R) Three Gorges Dam

Question 1

Negative social impacts of the project?

Answer 1

• 66% of Wanxian will be flooded, 250,000 people will have to move
• 1.3 million people need rehousing
• q. of life is already below average
• 60,000 hectares of farmland destroyed, 600,000 farmers have to move
• 828 religious, cultural sites will be flooded

Question 2

Positive social impacts?

Answer 2

• prevents deaths (300,000 died from floods in 1900s)
• prevents homelessness (floods in 1998 made 14 million homeless)
• people will have a better q. of life

Question 3

Positive economic impacts?

Answer 3

• HEP station generates electricity, up to 14% of China’s power
• reduces flood damage (1998 floods caused $20 billion worth)
• improves navigation of river, bigger ships can get to Chonqing, improving trade
• fruits can be grown in the more moderate climate
• lake attracts tourism and a fishing industry

Question 4

Negative environmental impacts?

Answer 4

• lake changes climate (milder), affects animals and plants
• dam traps pollution in the reservoir
• sediment is trapped in lake, will ruin HEP turbines
• 40 unique species of fish and 36 rare plants live in the river and could be affected
• Yangtze river dolphin with <100 left could be affected

Question 5

Key facts?

Answer 5

-The dam is on the River Yangzte, a major river

-River Yangzte is in the south-east of China.
The nearest town is Sandouping.

• Shanghai is at the mouth of the river, which flows into the Yellow Sea.
• Protests and armed police involvement

Question 6

Negative economic impacts?

Answer 6

• 60,000 hectares of farmland lost
• new cities have to be built
• people have to be rehoused

Question 7

Positive environmental impacts?

Answer 7

• reduces coal burning by 50 million tons

- carbon dioxide emissions reduced by 100 million tons

Question 8

Why do the Chinese government want it built?

Answer 8

• important energy source (<14%)
• reduces coal usage/impact
• impresses other countries
• promotes tourism
• silt can purposefully be deposited in fields
• rice fields can be kept flooded
• ships can go 1100km inland
• Chonqing uses river for water/sewage disposal

Question 9

How could the dam be better managed?

Answer 9

• dumping sewage elsewhere
• relocating people
• maintaining the HEP generators, so that they don’t silt up