What is the lifespan of the Three Gorges Dam?

6. The flow of silt into the reservoir is a recognised problem which has badly affected other major hydroelectric projects in China. This has been addressed partly by reafforestation in the upper reaches of the river, but could still significantly shorten the dam's expected lifespan of 50 years.



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Above all, it was sustainable. The dam cut coal consumption by 6 million tons each year, according to the World Bank estimates. However, building it required access to international expertise and experts in the field capable of completing such a complex project.

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Dam construction has played significant roles in flood control, irrigation, navigation, and energy supply; however, the enormous negative effects, such as landslides, ecological problems, and water quality decline, could surpass positive gains.

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Despite the havoc, Chinese authorities claim the Three Gorges Dam has succeeded in playing a “crucial role” in intercepting floodwaters. The dam's operator, China Three Gorges Corporation, told China's state news agency Xinhua that the dam has intercepted 18.2 billion cubic meters of potential floodwater.

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Parker Dam is a concrete arch structure commonly called the 'deepest dam in the world'.

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And for about 4 million people, the dam project was mostly a disaster, as it flooded 13 cities, 140 towns, and 1,352 villages.

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Lake Roosevelt is the name of the Columbia River reservoir behind Grand Coulee Dam. It is named for Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who as president authorized the initial construction of the dam and remained its champion as long as he was president.

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The plant took 17 years to construct and was built in stages by state-backed sponsor China Yangtze Three Gorges Dam Project Development Corporation. Initial works began in 1993. Up to the end of 1996, approximately $2.3bn was invested.

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Bratsk Dam The second biggest dam in the world by reservoir is located in Siberia, Russia. Built between 1954 and 1964, it holds 169 billion cubic metres of water, stretching for 5.4 square kilometres. It is 125 metres high and nearly 1.5 kilometres long with a railway and a highway running along it.

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