What is going to happen to the Three Gorges after the
Three Gorges Dam is built?
"Farewell to the Yangtze Three Gorges" as an
promotional slogan has been there for almost 20 years, starting from Hong Kong, then
Taiwan, then East Asia, then the US and Europe. "What's gonna
happen" is the most frequently asked questions we answered each day on the
phone. "I wanna see it before it's gone" seems the
main reason for people decide to go before the completion of the Three Gorges Dam.
What is the truth? Here is the answer from Chris
Q. Li, This Webmaster, www.YangtzeCruises.com.
The whole process of the construction of the Three Gorges Project is divided into 3
stages: First stage is from 1993-1997; Second stage is from 1997-2003; Third stage will be
from 2004-2009.
During the first stage, boats were sailing the "long river" while the
diverging channel on the right bank was being built.
 An old
house to be submerged after June, 2003
On the second stage, the water level of the reservoir will be 135 meters above the sea
level, the diverging channel and a temporary ship lock will be used for boats to go
through as the diverging channel can be used only for 272 days in a year. Since the
temporary ship lock can be used once every 43.5 minutes, the permanent ship lock on the
left bank and the vertical boat lift will be ready for navigation. So the view of the Three Gorges will be changed slowly.
The Three Gorges Dam site is situated at Sandouping which is located at the section
between Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge. After the reservoir shaping up, Qutang Gorge and Wu Gorge will be affected,
Xiling Gorge partially. Both Qutang and Wu Gorges are situated at the region where
mountains are over 1000-1500 meters high and where the water surface will be elevated
round 80 meters when the reservoir functions. So, both gorges
will still be with sheer cliffs.
At Qutang Gorge such attractions will be under the water as the White-washed Wall, Meng Liang's Ladder and Path on the cliff.
As for Xiling Gorge, it lies in mountains 1000-1500 meters high, but the foothills
shaping the Gorges are 500 meters high. When the water surface is 145 meters in high water
season, it influences the Xiling Gorge area slightly. But during the low water season in
winter when the water surface in 175 meters, the impact is
bigger.
On the third stage, the diversion channel will be closed and the power plant and
shiplocks will be in operation. The big lake, surrounded with numerous tributaries or
creeks, more natural scenes will appear and be easily accessible by boat.
For example: A big lake appears (hundreds of miles long); Shennong Stream in Badong;
Fengjie, Wuxi and Wushan counties will become our Golden Triangle; Hongchiba grassland at
the further upper reaches of the Daning River; Karst caves in Wuxi county; the Furong
River and Karst caves in Wulong; lately found huge cave, and one crevasse in Fengjie;
mammoth artificial waterfall when the Three Gorges Project operate, and so on.
After the Three Gorges Dam is built, we will actually have a better sailing course. Big
deluxe cruise ships like M. S. Blue Whale, M. S. Yangtze Angel, M. V. President I and Splendid China, could sail more months than
currently only around 8 months. Some larger cruise ships could be built to accommodate
more cruisers to ease the tension we have each year for the high season months, such as
April, May, September and October.
So, the Yangtze River Gorges - the Corridor of Natural Chinese Painting will be forever
there, even after the Three Gorges Dam has been complete.
 After the water level rises, such places in the neighborhood could be
accessible by boat. Photo by Cheng Yiyuan
Relating Topics:
Formation
of the Yangtze Gorges and Construction of the Key Water Control Project (1)
Three
Gorges Project, Water Level and Scenic Spots Affected
TGP - Power for Today and Tomorrow, An Article by
the Constructor
Three Gorges Project (TGP)
Sandouping (Three Gorges Dam)
Why China Wants to Build the Three Gorges Dam
Report on Environmental Impact of the TGP
Gezhouba Dam
Yichang
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Yangtze Three Gorges Project
Gezhouba Dam
Some facts about the
Gezhouba Dam
Gezi River Stone Forest
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