Three Gorges Dam eases flood pressure
2024-07-04 20:07:10
By Yan Wanqin, Yichang International Communication Studio
As of July 1 this year, the Three Gorges Reservoir has retained 3.9 billion cubic meters of floodwater, significantly mitigating flood impact on the lower reaches.
According to the Ministry of Water Resources, the first significant flood of 2024 (No.1) on the Yangtze River occurred on June 28.
As of July 1 this year, the Three Gorges Reservoir has retained 3.9 billion cubic meters of floodwater, significantly mitigating flood impact on the lower reaches.
According to the Ministry of Water Resources, the first significant flood of 2024 (No.1) on the Yangtze River occurred on June 28.
An aerial view of Three Gorges Dam on July 2. Photo by Zheng Jiayu.
Due to continuous heavy rainfall, the inflow to the Three Gorges Reservoir continued to rise, causing a flood of 30,000 cubic meters per second on June 28.
To relieve the flood control pressure in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the Three Gorges Reservoir has been gradually cutting its outflow.
From June 27, the reservoir cut its outflow from about 24,000 cubic meters per second down to about 18,000 cubic meters per second. On June 28, the outflow of the reservoir was further cut to 14,000 cubic meters per second.
The Three Gorges Dam in Yichang is the largest hydroelectric project in the world. At 2,309 meters wide and 185 meters high, the dam reduces the risk of flooding by trapping large amounts of water from the upper reaches of the river and reducing the flow downstream.
The reservoir has a flood control capacity of 22.15 billion cubic meters between its normal water level of 175 meters and the flood control level of 145 meters.
