ZHONGBOA, China, May 21 (UPI) — More than 100 workers were killed during the construction of China’s huge Three Gorges Dam which was has been completed despite opposition. The worker casualties were announced during a dedication ceremony Saturday.

+ There will be less economic losses from the frequent flooding of the area around Wuhan that the dam stops. It may also attract tourism. + It will boost agriculture- the reservoir will hold more water for irrigation.

Consequences Downstream The Chinese Three Gorges Dam included the flooding of 13 cities, 140 towns and 1,350 villages as well as numerous sites of cultural, historic and religious heritage. As a result, 1.3 million inhabitants were relocated, many from rural areas to cities (DTK 2002; International Rivers 2008a).

China is responsible for manufacturing almost a third of the world’s products. More than half of that output happens in the Yangtze River Economic Basin, which would be flooded within a day if the Three Gorges Dam burst. So if the Three Gorges Dam breaks, somewhere around 15% of the world’s manufacturing would stop.

Intense rainfall and severe flooding that has battered China since early June 2020, has affected tens of millions of people and left at least 140 dead or missing. The Three Gorges Dam that spans the Yangtze River has been put to the test in terms of its ability to control floods along Asia’s longest river.

Because of the enormous demand for food and housing (China population) in China, the natural drainage system has been damaged, water logging leading to problems in inner city development. Many dams have been built along the Yangtze river, reducing the amount of water which could flow through the river.

26,000 jobs

Tehri Dam