Part 1: Pros and Cons.
Some pros on the building of the Three Gorges Dam are that it provides energy for 20
million people, is now a tourist attraction, prevents flooding, increases the shipping
capacity, generates 22,500 megawatts of electricity, can control the amount of water let
through, allows navigation for ocean going freighters (ships carrying that carry goods),
protects millions of people downriver, the efficiency of the 32 turbines is over 94%,
generates a lot of electricity, is renewable, each turbine creates about 700MW of
energy, no fossil fuels are burned, no carbon dioxide is made, green energy, doesn’t
pollute, most productive hydroelectric dam in the world, has a ship lift for the ships and
40 billion cubic meters of water is held.
Some cons on the building of the Three Gorges Dam are that it took two decades to
build, cost 32 billion dollars to make, needed 20 million cubic meters of concrete,
flooded habitats, endangered 57 plant species, alters weather patterns, destroyed
aquatic life due to water change, forests are dying nearby due to water change, made
3,400 earthquakes, made multiple landslides, stops the animals from moving freely,
more than 1 million people had to be moved and it submerged 2 cities, 114 towns and
1,680 villages along the river bank.
Part 2: Argumentative side.
The all known Three Gorges Dam made upon the Yangtze River. The building of this
great structure has both good and bad impacts. First of all, how about a list of the pros
about building the now a tourist attraction Three Gorges Dam.
The Three Gorges Dam provides enough energy for around 20 million people. It
contains 32 turbines within it each one having an efficiency of over 94%. With each
turbine creating around 700MW of energy, meaning altogether around 22,500
megawatts are generated. It is the most productive hydroelectric dam in the world.
The Three Gorges Dam can control the amount of water let through, preventing the risk
of flooding. Meaning it protects millions of people and towns/villages downriver. Around
40 billion cubic metres of water is held in the dam.
The Three Gorges Dam increases the shipping capacity through Yangtze river and
China. It allows navigation for Ocean-Going Freighters (which are large ships that
transport goods). It also includes a ship lift, so that the boats can come from the bottom
and move to the top of the dam or the other way around as well.
The Three Gorges Dam creates energy that is renewable, meaning that we can
continue to use this water for energy and the river just refills itself through rain. As well
as being renewable no fossil fuels are burned to make it work meaning that no carbon
dioxide is made as well. So it doesn’t pollute, so with all that it makes something called
‘green energy’.
Now that all the pros have been listed it is time to turn tables and list all the cons about
building this dam. So some of the cons are the following.
The Three Gorges Dam not only cost 32 billion dollars to make, but also it took around 2
whole decades to actually build it. Don’t forget all the concrete needed just for the base,
that was around 20 million cubic metres of concrete.
Upon the creation of this huge dam, behind it flooded submerging 2 cities, 114 towns
and 1,680 villages, resulting in over more than 1 million people having to be moved.
Some of the people are still being moved or trying to find somewhere new to settle.
Behind the dam all the habitats/environment and of course teh man-made buildings
were all flooded and still are.
On the environmental side of this dam, it now alters the weather patterns, having more
water in one space. It caused multiple landslides and created 3,400 earthquakes. The
aquatic life is no longer able to move as freely and is dying. The forests near the dam
are also dying, endangering around 57 different plant species.
Now that both sides have been stated I hope it helped you choose what side you're on
or reinforce your side. Some neutral facts about the Three Gorges Dam are that the
ship lift takes 40 minutes to move the boats up or down. The dam is located on the
Yangtze River in China. It is the largest hydroelectric dam, measuring roughly 180
metres tall. Finally the amount of water held increases the day’s time by 0.06
microseconds.
References:
Three Gorges Dam: The World's Most Powerful Dam
By Kiera.Kassell—7JS.
