The Three Gorges Dam, resembling the Great Wall in grandeur, spans the Yangtze River—the world's third-longest river—at Sandouping Town, Yiling District, Yichang City, Hubei Province. Situated in the Xiling Gorge section of the Yangtze's main stream at the eastern terminus of the Three Gorges Reservoir, this megaproject controls a drainage area of approximately 1 million square kilometers. Initiated in 1994, it integrates flood control, power generation, navigation, and water resource management into a single complex, serving as the centerpiece of the Three Gorges Hydropower Station, the core attraction of the Three Gorges Dam Tourism Zone, and one of the world's largest hydraulic engineering marvels.
Structurally composed of a main concrete gravity dam, spillway gates, a post-dam powerhouse, a permanent five-stage ship lock, and a ship lift, the dam's layout progresses from right to left bank as follows: right bank non-overflow section, right powerhouse section, 483-meter-long spillway section, left powerhouse section, and left bank non-overflow section. Technical specifications include:
The dam's navigation enhancements have quintupled the Yangtze's one-way annual throughput capacity from 10 million to 50 million tons while reducing transportation costs by 35-37%. This engineering colossus stands as a testament to modern hydroelectric innovation and comprehensive river basin management.
