China Warns Of "Urgent Problems" At Three Gorges Dam, 4 Million People Face Drought

[FastTadpole]

Quote:China Warns Of "Urgent Problems" At Three Gorges Dam, As 4 Million People Downstream Face Severe Drought
Gus Lubin | May 20, 2011, 7:04 AM

China has acknowledged new problems at the notorious $37 billion Three Gorges Dam.

A statement today from the Wen Jiabao and the State Council said the dam had caused severe problems to the environment, shipping, agricultural irrigation and water supplies in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, according to Global Times.

Other unspecified problems were mentioned: "Problems emerged at various stages of project planning and construction but could not be solved immediately, and some arose because of increased demands brought on by economic and social development," the statement said.

Currently a severe drought is affecting 4 million people in the region downstream of the giant dam.

Three Gorges was already controversial because to build it the government flooded 13 cities, 140 towns and 1,600 villages. The dam was supposed to help with China water supply issues, but its primary use was as the world's largest hydroelectric dam.

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Full Story: http://www.businessinsider.com/three-gorges-dam-drought-2011-5

See Also:

Quote:17 Earthshaking Facts About The Three Gorges Dam And China's Next Even Bigger Water Project


Not sure how China's Three Gorges Dam affects you? Consider this: It will literally slow the rotation of the planet.

In ten years China has built the biggest ever hydroelectric dam and started an even more elaborate and expensive scheme to divert freshwater across 1,000 miles. On these two controversial projects -- worth together over $100 billion -- China's future depends.

Full Story and Picture Slideshow: http://www.businessinsider.com/three-gorges-dam-south-to-north-water-diverson-project-china-2010-7

[icosaface]

How will it slow the earth's rotation? I thought it would even out ie faster going towards the sun and slower going away.

[FastTadpole]

I'm just the messenger this is the claim:

Quote:By shifting a significant mass of water, the dam will literally SLOW THE ROTATION OF THE EARTH

http://www.businessinsider.com/three-gorges-dam-south-to-north-water-diverson-project-china-2010-7#by-shifting-a-significant-mass-of-water-the-dam-will-literally-slow-the-rotation-of-the-earth-4

[icosaface]

I don't see how that would work and the link doesn't say either. I'm not blaming you for the claim I just don't see the connection between earth rotation and the dam.