Three Gourges Dam

Question 1

Hard engineering

Answer 1

Involves the use of technology to create permanent features to control rivers

Question 2

Soft engineering

Answer 2

Tried to manage a river by working with its natural system

Question 3

Location

Answer 3

Asia,China
On the Yangtze river
Upstream (west) from the Yellow Sea
Mouth near Shanhai

Question 4

Fact file

Answer 4

Largest hydroelectric power station in the world
2.3km across, 181m high
A total of 12 cities, 140 towns, 4500 villages, 4000 hospitals and clinics, 40,000 tombs, 1300 archeological sites have been submurged
Total cost of £25.5 billion
Building time: started 1994 and reservoir reached its full height in 2010

Question 5

Purpose

Answer 5

To control the flow of the river, locks have been built inside the dam
These can be opened varying distances in accordance with the ever of water in the Yangtze river
E.g. if the water level was higher in spring because of heavy rain, the locks could be adjusted to be more closed
This helped to prevent flooding further downstream

Question 6

Economic advantages

Answer 6

Huge ships can transport good further upstream.

Produce can now be sold in wider areas

Question 7

Economic disadvantages

Answer 7

Dam now stops most of silt that was being carried downstream.
50% of the 500 million tonnes of silt will be deposited behind the dam.
Therefore very expensive maintenance.

Question 8

Social advantages

Answer 8

Prevented flooding downstream where 100 million have been affected on a daily basis.
Reduced flooding from a 1 - in -10 year event to a 1 - in - 100 year event.
HEP station provides 11% of China’s electricity.

Question 9

Social disadvantages

Answer 9

Many cities, towns, archaeological sites and hospitals have been submerged.
At least 1.4 million forced to evacuate.
Another 100,000 might be moved due to dangers of landslides and bank collapses.
Were promised compensation (which included new homes and jobs). Many have not yet recieved this.

Question 10

Environmental advantages

Answer 10

Species downstream of dam now protected from flooding.

Question 11

Environmental disadvantages

Answer 11

Concerns about quality of water because more rubbish is being stuck behind the dam as it is no longer able to travel downstream.
Therefore river dolphins and the Yangtze sturgeon are in danger of becoming extinct.
Rising water levels mean that land around the River is becoming destabilized and landslides have become more frequent.