The idea of a major dam along the Yangtze River was first suggested in 1919 by Sun Yat-Sen.  Now, a project to create the highly controversial dam is underway.

The Three Gorges Damn.  Photo Credit: Discovery Channel Online.

The Three Gorges Dam project will be extremely expensive, costing as much as US $11 billion.  The engineering work will also be extremely difficult.  Furthermore, many people will be displaced by the dam, and objections to its construction are therefore mounting.

If it goes through, the dam would be the largest in the world if it goes through.  It will be 597 feet (182 m) tall, and generate 20,000 megawatts of electricity.  The dam will also require a 373-mile (600-km) long reservoir to hold back water.

As many as 1.2 million people will have to move because of the dam.  Their homes will be ruined along with 79,072 acres (32,000 hectares) of land that will be lost.

Any minor problems with the dam would lead to a tremendous disaster.  Flooding could affect many cities and kill many people.  Also, the large amounts of concentrated water could provoke earthquakes in the area.

Certain consequences of the dam can be foreseen.  Salinity will probably increase, some animal species could lose their habitats, and silt could accumulate.

Many people feel that China needs the dam for the electricity it will generate for the country.  Also, thousands of people have been killed every year recently due to flooding on the Yangtze River.

Numerous foreign firms have offered to help the Chinese government with the project.  When finished, the dam will be an extremely impressive technical accomplishment.