How did the Three Gorges Dam affect archaeological sites and natural scenery along the Yangtze River?

The construction of the Three Gorges Dam has had a profound and controversial impact on the region's cultural and physical landscape.

As the dam's reservoir filled, it submerged large areas of the Qutang, Wu, and Xiling gorges, resulting in the destruction of magnificent natural scenery that had defined the region for centuries. Furthermore, the rising floodwaters caused the permanent loss of countless rare architectural and archaeological sites; following the completion of the project's second phase, approximately 1,200 sites of historical and archaeological importance that once lined the middle reaches of the Yangtze River vanished.1

Beyond these losses, the creation of the immense reservoir has been linked to environmental and geological concerns, including increased risks of landslides and earthquakes, as well as the potential for water pollution from human and industrial waste. The displacement of at least 1.3 million people from cities, towns, and villages further underscores the significant human and cultural cost associated with the project's development.1