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Essay on Three Gorges Dam
The Three Gorges Dam is one of the China's biggest construction projects since the Great Wall. It is one and half miles long and more than six hundred feet high with a reservoir hundreds of feet deep and almost four hundred miles long. This project will cost more than practically any other single construction project in the past.
The project is full of prospective environmental and social risks, so far its purpose is to enhance affordable hydroelectric power all through the Yangtze Valley and supply water to the dearth suffering area to the north, around Beijing. (Kennedy, Bruce, CNN In-Depth specials - Visions of China - Asian Superpower: "China's Three Gorges Dam" -1999)
Pros of The Three Gorges Dam:
Supporters state the benefits of the project far compensate the costs. The main advantage to construct a dam this size is to produce power, as the population and economic growth of China are the key reasons why they want to look for alternative means for electricity and water. (Lena H. Sun. "Dam Could Alter Face of China." The Washington Post. December 31, 1991)
Chinese officials believe that the dam will lessen the danger of flooding, as the huge flood storage capacity will lessen the occurrence of major floods.
The possibility that the dam will increase flooding is far-off. Additionally, navigation capacities on the river from Yichang to Chongging will be enhanced; therefore, 10.000 tons fleets can make direct trips. Shipping will as well turn out to be faster, cheaper and safer as the speedy waters are under control and ship locks are installed.
A further advantage of the dam is to lessen productions of sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide producing electricity up to about forty million tons of coal. China's rising coal consumption causes a huge hazard to the environment. Coal burning releases....
