The Three Gorges Dam consists of a 610-foot-high wall. It runs 1.3 miles from bank to bank, and the reservoir created by the dam extends 360 miles on the Chongqing River.
Construction began on December 14, 1994. The dam body was completed in 2006. It is not expected to be fully operational until 2011.
The cost of the project is expected to exceed $39 billion. A 1998 flood in the area that was expected to under control by the dam left 4,000 dead, 14 million homeless and resulted in $24 billion in economic loss.
Those who defend the dam maintain that the hydroelectric power provided by the dam is much cleaner than coal-burning typically used in China. Those who oppose the dam claims it harms the ecosystem, endangers the habitat and erodes much of the coastline.
The dam was built mainly to prevent devastating flooding and loss of lives in the area. It also generates electricity, protects the environment and has tremendous tourist value.
The Three Gorges Dam, which has displaced more than 1.3 million people, is considered to be the world's most notorious dam. It has set records for the number of towns and cities flooded at 13 cities, 140 towns and 1,350 villages.
