Blog Prompt:Discuss the socio-economic impact of the Three Gorges Dam.
Firstly, before discussing the socio-economic impact of the Three Gorges Dam, I would like to give you a brief explanation of this large dam which is located in Hibei, China. Below is the essential parts of the dam you should know:
Length:
2,335 metres (7,661 ft)
Height:
101 metres (331 ft)
Width (at base):
115 metres (377 ft)
Construction began: December 14 ,1994
Construction Cost: Estimated 180 billion yuan, (39 billion U.S dollars)
In my opinion, I think that this dam which has huge impact on the social and economic development has both pros and cons.
Pros:1. The dam can help us generate more electricity.(The dam's hydropower turbines are expected to create as much electricity as 18 nuclear power plants!)
2.The Three Gorges project is seen as an important future source of energy for China's growing electrical consumption. It is also expected to tame the fabled Yangzi River. The Yangzi's notorious floods have been recorded for millennia and have claimed more than 1 million lives in the past 100 years.
Firstly, before discussing the socio-economic impact of the Three Gorges Dam, I would like to give you a brief explanation of this large dam which is located in Hibei, China. Below is the essential parts of the dam you should know:
Length:
2,335 metres (7,661 ft)
Height:
101 metres (331 ft)
Width (at base):
115 metres (377 ft)
Construction began: December 14 ,1994
Construction Cost: Estimated 180 billion yuan, (39 billion U.S dollars)
In my opinion, I think that this dam which has huge impact on the social and economic development has both pros and cons.
Pros:1. The dam can help us generate more electricity.(The dam's hydropower turbines are expected to create as much electricity as 18 nuclear power plants!)
2.The Three Gorges project is seen as an important future source of energy for China's growing electrical consumption. It is also expected to tame the fabled Yangzi River. The Yangzi's notorious floods have been recorded for millennia and have claimed more than 1 million lives in the past 100 years.
Cons:1.Corruption and poor construction have led to disasters at major building projects. Notable among the reports was the collapse of a steel bridge in the city of Chongqing in January 1999 that killed 40 people.
2.Environmental disaster - accumulations of toxic materials in the river.
3.The social element of Three Gorges has generated more questions than answers. The dam would "drown" more than 100 towns once the water started to rise in 2003. Government estimates say 1.2 million people will be resettled and that new land is being provided for 300,000 farmers. Some observers say the government may be underestimating by as many as 700,000 the number of people who actually will be relocated. (adapted from http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1999/china.50/asian.superpower/three.gorges/)
4.Archaeologists and historians have estimated nearly 1,300 important sites will disappear under the reservoir's waters.
Judging from the number of pros and cons listed above, I think the Dam has more harms than benefits.
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