Blog Prompt #3 China's Three Gorges Dam

Blog Prompt
Q: Discuss the socio-economic impact of the Three Gorges Dam

Chinese officials acknowledged that the massive hydroelectric Three Gorge Dam, sandwiched between breathtaking cliffs on the Yangtze River in Central China, may be triggering landslides, altering ecosystems and causing serious environmental problems. The dam on an area heavily populated, home to threatened animals and plant species crossed by geologic fault lines is a recipe for disaster. Millions of people were forced to re locate to make room for the dam. For remaining residents, they were faced with landslides, waterborne diseases and a decline in biodiversity. Water collected in a lake longer than lake Superior and caused flooding, resulting in devastating results, including death. Loose soil around the cliffs caused constant landslides. Residents had to constantly relocate to higher or safer grounds whenever the water level of the reservoir changes, impacting their social lives tremendously. One of the greatest fears is that the dam may trigger severe earthquakes as the reservoir sits on two major faults. The people are constantly living in fear. On the other hand, at the mouth of Yangtze residents of Shanghai are experiencing water shortages and drought. The decrease in freshwater flow results in more seawater seeping upstream, bringing along with it jellyfish and other diseases. In addition to massive fishspecies, it will also affect endangered species, including theYangtze dolphin, the Chinese Sturgeon, the Chinese Tiger, theChinese Alligator, the Siberian Crane, and the Giant Panda.

The biodiversity is badly affected. Animals and plants are disappearing and facing extinction. The effects of the dam’s disturbance of whole ecosystems could reverberate for decades. `

Despite the Three Gorges Dam’s growing list of problems, hydropower remains an integral component of China’s energy mix. It aims to increase it’s electricity from renewal sources. The dam is to reduce emissions of sulfur
dioxide and carbon dioxide; generating electricity equal to about
40 million tons of coal.