Where is the Three Gorges Dam?
Yichang on the River Yangtze, China
How much did it reduce the risk of flooding?
From a 1-in-10 year event to a 1-in-100 year event.
How many people did it benefit (living in high risk flooding areas)
15 million people
How much land was protected from flooding?
25,000ha of farmland
What is the dam having a positive impact on?
Flood control Navigation Power generation
How much silt did the river carry and what is the issue?
Over 500 million tonnes of silt every year. Up to 50% of this is deposited behind dam, which could quickly reduce reservoir storage capacity.
Why is the water becoming heavily polluted?
Because of shipping and waste discharge from cities
How does Chongqing contribute to pollution?
Chongqing pumps in over 1 billion tonnes of untreated waste per year
What else is being released into the water?
Toxic substances from factories, mines and waste tips submerged by reservoir are being released into water.
How many people were displaced?
1.4 million people to make way for dam, reservoir and power station
What were displaced people promised?
compensation for their losses, plus new homes and jobs
What is the issue with compensation?
Many have not yet received it. Newspaper articles in China admitted that so far over $30 million set aside has been taken by corrupt local officials.
Yichang on the River Yangtze, China
Where is the Three Gorges Dam?
From a 1-in-10 year event to a 1-in-100 year event.
How much did it reduce the risk of flooding?
15 million people
How many people did it benefit (living in high risk flooding areas)
25,000ha of farmland
How much land was protected from flooding?
Flood control Navigation Power generation
What is the dam having a positive impact on?
Over 500 million tonnes of silt every year. Up to 50% of this is deposited behind dam, which could quickly reduce reservoir storage capacity.
How much silt did the river carry and what is the issue?
Because of shipping and waste discharge from cities
Why is the water becoming heavily polluted?
Chongqing pumps in over 1 billion tonnes of untreated waste per year
How does Chongqing contribute to pollution?
Toxic substances from factories, mines and waste tips submerged by reservoir are being released into water.
What else is being released into the water?
1.4 million people to make way for dam, reservoir and power station
How many people were displaced?
compensation for their losses, plus new homes and jobs
What were displaced people promised?
Many have not yet received it. Newspaper articles in China admitted that so far over $30 million set aside has been taken by corrupt local officials.
What is the issue with compensation?