A tour of the Three Gorges Dam

The Three Gorges Dam is the world largest hydroelectricity project, the world's largest hydro power station, and a massive water-control project that has made a huge difference to navigation in the region.

 

"Where I am sitting right now is the highest point of the Three Gorge's Dam, 185 meters. The water in this basin behind me reaches a height of 175 meters. Even though we cannot see a lot of it today, I will describe you guys how vast and how wide this dam actually is. From this point to the other point of the upstream is 2309 meters wide. This water and the water downstream has difference of 100 meters. Can you image the amount of water that high even as high as Statue of Liberty in New York. What kind of ability it has to control floodings and generate power? It's no wonder that this enormous construction behind me earns its title-the biggest stand-alone architectural construction in the world."

 

Like a giant door, the Three Gorges Dam locks the exit of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River. The rapidly running water is retained in an enormous reservoir, 600 kilometers in length and 175 meters above the river. Tourists from every country of the world come to see the grand Three Gorges Dam.

 

"Is it your first time to visit the Three Gorge's Dam?"

 

"Yes, it is."

 

"OK, What are you feelings? What's your sympathy towards this place?"

 

"Well, I know where you are going."

 

"No No No. I totally have no intention."

 

"I think it's a tremendous project and I think they needed to do it. You have a lot of flooding issues and you have a tremendous native need for power in China. I mean it's a huge country. I think we shouldn't judge what anybody else does in their own countries."

 

"Are you an engineer? Are you from a professional company because I see you're interested in this place."

 

"Yes. I was a engineer."

 

"Are you an engineer?"

 

"I was."

 

"What's next for you professionally? Are you still doing things about engineering?"

 

"Retired."

 

"Retired. OK."

 

Three sections of the Three Gorges dam are open to tourists, but you need to walk on the top of the dam so as to closely see how huge it really is.

 

"Now I am allowed to visit a place, where ordinary tourists can't access to. Where is the place? It's the dam crest."

 

"The Three Gorges Dam is obviously not only used to generate electricity, it's also used to control the river and to control it from flooding. Now here are 23 flood gates, which are all massive in size. You must be wondering how big the water basin on the up end the dam might be. It houses an amount of 20 million cubic meters, which is obviously an incredible amount. It's hard to imagine."