Enormous and ambitious – these are just two of a few words to best describe China’s Three Gorges Dam. It’s the world’s biggest dam after all, with its 185 meters height and 2.3 kilometers width. On its east and west are huge hydroelectric turbine generators that will engage the dam’s processes.
Three Gorges Dam can contain multiple ships at a time. The dam contains lock channels on both sides – one responsible for controlling upriver traffic and the other managing downriver traffic. In 2003, a one-year period of trial navigation tested the waters surrounding the dam. Luckily, two ships had safely gone through the five-level ship locks of the dam, marking the readiness of the dam’s operations.
Touring the Three Gorges Dam will not only give you a very unique experience but an educational one too. The dam’s construction gives you insight in one of the great achievements in the field of engineering.
Although the dam has been subject to controversies of being environmentally dangerous and disastrous, many would agree it is a tourist attraction for its historical and educational value.
Three Gorges Dam is best viewed in a helicopter or a higher area so you can really view the magnificent construction and design of the dam. Tourists are provided a viewing area that’s surrounded with metal bars for safety purposes. Here, you can see the breathtaking scenery of the dam and the water surrounding the area.
Most tourists visiting the site wear comfortable clothing like a polo shirt and a pair of shorts. It is advisable to choose an outfit that’s appropriate with China’s climate and weather, which varies depending on the time of you visit.
Three Gorgers Dam stretches the historically famous Yangtze River in Yiling district, Yichang, Hubei, China. The dam can be found 615 kilometers (380 miles) east of Chongqing City.