History and Culture of Three Gorges Dam

On December 14, 1994, the world's largest hydroelectric project was officially started. It is located in Sandouping, the middle of Xiling Gorge, Yichang City, Hubei Province. It's about 38km from Three Gorges Dam to Gezhouba Dam. Three Gorges Dam includes two main projects: the main building works and the river diversion works, the total budget is 95.46 billion RMB. 50.09 billion RMB for the water project; 30.07 billion RMB for the relocation of 1.13 million immigrants; 15.3 billion RMB for the power transmission project. The total construction period is 17 years, divided into three phases from 1993 to 2009. The dam is concrete gravity dam, the length of the crest is 3035 meters, the elevation is 185 meters, and the normal water level is 175m with a total capacity 39.3 billion cubic meters including flood control capacity of 22.15 billion cubic meters. It is able to withstand the floods happens once a hundred year. What's more, the two power plants which equipped 26 generators generating capacity of 84.9 billion kwh average annual. Shipping capacity from the current 1,000 tons increased to 5,000 tons. 10,000 ton level fleet can reach Chongqing directly while transportation costs also decreased by 35%.

When the Three Gorges Dam is completed, will form a giant 600km long reservoir and becomes a rare new world landscape. November 8, 1997, after the closure of the Yangtze River, the water level increased from the original 66 meters to 88 meters hadn't affected the scenery of Three Gorges; June 2003, as the finish of the second phase, the water level enhanced to 135 meters except Zhang Fei Temple has been relocated, the other scenic areas are still in preservation; In 2006, the water level increased to 156 meters, only the gate of Qu Yuan Temple flooded and need to rebuilt; In 2009, the Three Gorges Dam is completed, the water level reached 175 meters, there are only small groups of stone carvings have been removed, The other attractions will remain the same. With the making of the artificial lake improved the navigation conditions of the river. It is easier to reach the scattered attraction, for example, the magnificent Lesser Three Gorges and Shennong Stream.

Besides, the two modern wonders: Three Gorges Dam and Gezhouba Dam will become the new attraction and give rise to the Yangtze River.