Great Jinjiang Levee

The Great Jinjiang Levee is an embankment constructed along the Yangtze River in China to prevent flooding. Completed in 1548, it is one of many barriers built to control the river's flow, particularly in the lower course where the terrain is low-lying and dotted with lakes and marshes.1

The Yangtze River is Asia's longest river and a major global waterway. Flooding has been a recurring issue, with significant events in 1870, 1931, 1954, 1998, 2010, and 2020. These floods have caused extensive destruction and loss of life, exacerbated by factors such as deforestation, land reclamation that reduced natural flood control from lakes, and increased population density in flood-prone areas.1

The Great Jinjiang Levee, along with other similar structures, aimed to manage these floodwaters. However, by the late 19th century, the river's flow was confined to only four openings on its south side. This led to sediment buildup, raising flood levels and creating lowlands on the north bank. The construction of the Three Gorges Dam has since been a major effort to alleviate flooding on the lower Yangtze.1