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| Three
Gorges Dam Blocked Up on Oct. 26, 2002 as Scheduled |
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Diversion
Channel |
Three
Gorges Dam Blocked Up on Oct. 26, 2002 as Scheduled
Diversion Channel
Oct. 26, 2002, was the final day in the history of the diversion
channel in the Yangtze Three Gorge Project (TGP). The temporary sailing
course was closed by 2 dams.
From that moment, all cruise ships would sail above the dam and none
of them could go through the dam down to Shashi or Wuhan. It is going
to continue this way until the end of June, 2003.
From November 10, 2002 to June 17, 2003, engineers will test and fine-tune
the five-leveled shiplocks and generators of power plant. The reservoir
will start accumulating and storing water and water level will arise
during June 1-15 in 2003, at a rate of 5 meters a day, until its water
level rises to 135 meters from its current level of 60 meters. Early
news said that the waterway between the dam and Chongqing would be
closed to any ships. Now cruise lines say they will sail as usual.
The shiplocks at the TGP are expected be in full operation afterwards.
Before June 1, 2003, water level on the river on both sides of the
dam will remain at its current 60-meter above sea level. From March
to June, all the cruise ships are basically scheduled to sail between
Chongqing and Maoping,
a port right above the Three Gorges Project.
After June 17, water level at Qutang Gorge will rise 9 meters, Wu
Gorge 16 meters, and Xiling Gorge 46 meters. The major scenery basically
remain the same, as the mountains along the Three Gorges range from
1,000 to 1,500 meters in height. As a result, ships could now sail
all the way to Chongqing, even in the winter draining season.
From July 1, all the cruise ships are scheduled back to normal. Ships
can sail through the Yangtze Three Gorges Dam by the 5- leveled shiplocks.
It takes 2.5-3 hours each way. |
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Temporary
shiplock |
The
following lists some possible effects on the popular shore excursion
sites from July 2003 to 2006:*
Fengdu, Wanxian and Shibaozhai remain unchanged.
* Water level at White Emperor City will rise 10 meters. The Baidi
Mountain, where the White Emperor City is located, will become a
peninsula.
* Lesser Three Gorges will be 18 to 20 meters deeper. While the
river over there becomes wider than before, its scenic attractions
will be preserved and more accessible.
* Shennong Stream in Badong will rise by 34 to 35 meters. The naked
trackers, one of the most fabled scenes, will hopefully be preserved.
* Wuhan, Yueyang Tower, Jingzhou (Shashi) and Yichang are after
the dam project and will not affected by the big dam at all.
Ships will sail between Chongqing
and Maoping
from March to the end of June 2003, due to the constructing Yangtze
Three Gorges dam.
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