Why was the Three Gorges Dam built?

The Three Gorges Dam was built primarily to achieve three major objectives:

• Flood Control: A central goal was to protect millions of people living in the Yangtze River basin from the catastrophic, periodic flooding that has historically caused significant loss of life and property damage.12
• Hydroelectric Power: The project was designed to provide a massive source of renewable energy for central China. It currently operates as the most productive hydroelectric facility in the world, with a capacity of 22,500 megawatts.13
• Navigation: By creating an immense deepwater reservoir, the dam allows large oceangoing freighters to travel 2,250 km (1,400 miles) inland from Shanghai to the city of Chongqing, thereby facilitating inland trade.1

While these were the primary motivations, the project has been the subject of significant controversy due to the displacement of over one million people, the destruction of archaeological sites, and concerns regarding environmental degradation and seismic risks.14