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Three Gorges Dam

What is three gorges dam?

· Emily Grant

Key facts

River Yangtze River (Chang Jiang)[1]
Location Just west of Yichang, Hubei province, China[1]
Construction start 1994[1]
Completion 2006[1]
Type Hydroelectric dam[1]

The Three Gorges Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Yangtze River in Hubei province, China, just west of Yichang. Construction began in 1994 and was completed in 2006, making it the largest hydroelectric dam in the world at that time. It was built for power generation and navigation. [2] [1] [3]

Context

The Three Gorges Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Yangtze River in Hubei province, China, just west of Yichang. Construction began in 1994 and was completed in 2006, making it the largest hydroelectric dam in the world at that time [2]. It was built for power generation and navigation, allowing oceangoing freighters to travel inland [2]. Its official name is the Yangtze River Three Gorges Water Conservancy Project [3]. The dam is sometimes confused with the Three Gorges itself, which is the river gorge region, not the dam [1].

Documented claims

  • It was the largest hydroelectric dam in the world when completed in 2006. [1]
  • It allows oceangoing freighters to navigate inland on the Yangtze River. [1]
  • Its official project name is the Yangtze River Three Gorges Water Conservancy Project. [3]

Questions and answers

What would happen if the Three Gorges Dam fails?

The sources do not specify the consequences of a dam failure. [1]

How long will the Three Gorges Dam last?

The sources do not provide an expected lifespan for the dam. [1]

What serious problems has the Three Gorges Dam caused?

The sources do not list specific problems caused by the dam. [1]

How did the Three Gorges Dam affect the Earth?

The sources do not describe the dam's global effects. [1]

Sources

  1. Three Gorges Dam | Facts, Construction, Benefits, & ... — britannica.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Three Gorges Dam, China | EROS — eros.usgs.gov (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Three Gorges Dam: An Overview - Stanford — large.stanford.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Places