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How did the Three Gorges Dam change the Qutang Gorge?
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Three Gorges Dam
The Three Gorges Dam spanning the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) near Yichang, Hubei province, China.
The construction of the Three Gorges Dam significantly altered the Qutang Gorge, which is the first and shortest of the three famous gorges.12
Before the dam's reservoir was created, the Qutang Gorge was considered the most dangerous section of the Yangtze River for navigation, characterized by its extremely narrow passage, numerous rapids, and strong eddies. Following the inundation caused by the dam, these natural features were submerged as part of the creation of an immense deepwater reservoir. Additionally, while the gorge still retains its appearance as a dramatic natural feature, the height of its steep slopes relative to the water level has been diminished significantly due to the rise of the reservoir.21