Why are landslides and earthquakes concerns near the Three Gorges Dam reservoir?

The Three Gorges Dam reservoir is a subject of significant environmental concern due to the potential for geological instability in the surrounding region. Critics and some experts have expressed fears that the massive weight and volume of the water impounded in the reservoir could trigger earthquakes and landslides.12

The region is already characterized as being highly active seismically and frequently prone to landslides, leading to worries that the changes imposed by the dam's regime could exacerbate these natural risks. These concerns have contributed to broader debates regarding the project's safety, with some observers arguing that the increased geological activity could potentially lead to catastrophic dam failure. Furthermore, the reservoir's impact on the landscape has been a point of contention since the project's inception, as it necessitated the inundation of vast areas and the relocation of over a million people.123