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There are many social benefits that have resulted in the building of the three gorges dam. THe dam provided energy for millions who had little access to it, and also helped prevent the devastating floods of the Yangtze River Basin and make the river safer for navigation."In 2007, the turbines generated around 62 billion kWhr of electricity – about two-thirds of the maximum level expected by the completed project. Other benefits of the project claimed by project designers include  flood protection on the historically dangerous Yangtze River and improvements to river navigation for thousands of kilometers. "(Gleik) This increased jobs in the area and increased the shipping industry which is far more profitable than the previous agricultural economy of the area. Not only has this increased economic productivity in the area but the dam has also allowed for the quality of life for the people of the area. However some arguments have been made that millions of people had to be relocated due to the river being blocked off. This is just a small inconvenience compared to the millions of jobs created by the three gorges dam and the new more economically beneficial area.
http://worldwater.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/WB03.pdf

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The building of the dam has caused a negative impact on the environment in the forms of the loss of habitat and the altering of natural Ecosystem services. "Ecological problems have been projected to occur as a result of the construction of the dam and modification of the watershed, including impacts on the fisheries of the Yangtze River basin. This basin has 36 percent of all freshwater fish species in China,with more than 360 fish species belonging to 29 families and 131 genera."(Gleik) Though it would directly affect the fish population in the Yangtze river, long term environmental benefits would come from the TGD. The dam would decrease the annual use of fossil fuels in the creation of electricity, "Much of China’s electricity is produced by thermal power plants burning one of the dirtiest fossil fuels – coal. The Chinese government estimates that if the electricity generated by the Three Gorges project were produced instead with Chinese coal,50 million more tons of coal would be burned annually,producing 100 million tons of carbon dioxide, 1.2–2 million tons of sulfur dioxide, 10,000 tons of carbon monoxide,

and large quantities of particulates" (Gleik) This would in turn be a long term effect that would not only benefit China but also the rest of the world. A decrease in carbon emissions would help ecosystem services remain stable and lessen the effects of pollution on the population. Not only will carbon emissions be decreased but the Chinese government will also develop more in the area to help the environment and protect the dam. " In addition, while massive funding has been committed to the dam

itself. Officials estimate that about 40 billion yuan will be spent to build at least 150 sewage treatment plants and 170 urban garbage disposal centers." China needs to protect their investment and in turn the long term effects would be more beneficial to the environment.

http://sks.sirs.com/webapp/article?artno=0000134779&type=ART
http://worldwater.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/WB03.pdf

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Was building the Three Gorges Dam worth it?

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Was building the Three Gorges Dam worth it?

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Yes, building the dam was worth it, because the benefits out weighed the costs. Why you may ask? Read below to find out more!

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The Three Gorges dam was approved for construction in 1992 and costs an average of 10.4 billion dollars today. The dam was supported by the Chinese chairman Mao Zedong ,"Chairman Mao Zedong was a staunch supporter of a Three Gorges Dam, which he felt would provide a forceful symbol of China's self-sufficiency and ability to develop its resources without Western aid.(Petroski)The Chinese communist regime had its people in great suffering after taking over power in the 1950s. China suffered from the lack of industry and from rolling power outages due to the lack of energy. The construction of the dam provided electricity for the worlds largest population of which 15% of the population lived along the Yangtze River which the dam was built on. Not only has the dam provided electricity at a cheaper cost, the dam also decreased the flooding in the Yangtze river basin which "During flood season, the water level in the river can rise as much as 15 meters, affecting 15 million people and threatening 1.5 million hectares of cultivated land. Historic floods have been devastating. The flood of 1870 is still talked about along the middle reaches of the river, and the flood of 1954 inundated 3 million hectares of arable land and claimed 30,000 lives. Altogether in the 20th century, as many as half a million people may have died in the Yangtze's flood waters."(Petroski)  The dam According to Li Yongan, the general manager of the Yangtze Three Gorges Project Development Office, the project averted floods by storing waters that would have exceeded flood levels below the dam. Some may argue that the dam has taken away thousands of acres of agricultural land and displaced millions of Chinese Citizens" Fourteen thousand hectares of agricultural land will be submerged."(Gleik) However, the Yangtze is known as china's "Golden Waterway" and the shipping industry has flourished in the area. Allowing for industry to be built around the area and furthering China's growing economy. The dam has also allowed for tourism to develop in the area which brought many economic benefits.
http://sks.sirs.com/webapp/article?artno=0000134779&type=ART
http://worldwater.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/WB03.pdf