The 3 Gorges Dam is a hydroelectric gravity dam and a source of controversy because of the amount of water that is held behind it.
Full-scale model at the dam site
The government ordered 1.3 - 1.9 million people that lived on the banks of the Yangtze River to relocate or be under many feet of water. Digging up your loved ones for relocation was also recommended.
One of the many environmental concerns were landslides that would result from the increased pressure of the surrounding land. One month after the water level was raised, 700 million cubic feet slide into an adjoining river. This slide resulted in 65-foot waves that caused the death of 14 people. Landslides continue to this day, even when we did the Yangtze River Cruise, we could not continue due to a landslide.
Earthquakes are another concern as the reservoir sits on 2 major faults. By changing the weight so greatly, it has created earthquakes and can intensify them. 822 tremors were recorded during 2006 when the water level was first increased.
Map courtesy of the Viking River Cruise we took on the Yangtze River.
Below left shows the 2-way shipping lanes and on the right shows us entering the 1st lock.
Shown below, it impressed us the amount of roadway tunneled through miles of mountains. When we saw vehicles on the bridge it was our only indicator there was a roadway.
Below is one of several "Hanging Coffins" suspended by 2 wooden poles along the Yangtze River. (look in the crevasse approx. half way down the picture) It is an unsolved mystery as to why and how coffins like the one shown below are placed. One would have to go to great effort to place a coffin like the one shown.
This short video was fun for us to watch others order and eat odd deep fried "things" on a stick. One person told us the stinger on the scorpion made his tongue numb.
I hope you enjoyed my post because I enjoyed making it.
