explain why the yangtze river is being dammed at the three gorges?

Answer 1

As with manyy damns, there is controversy over the costs and benefits of the Three Gorges Dam. Although there are economic benefits from flood control and hydroelectric power, there are also concerns about the future of over 1.9 million people who will be displaced by the rising waters[2], the loss of many valuable archaeological and cultural sites, as well as the effects on the environment.

Sun Yat-sen first proposed building a dam on the Yangtze River in 1919 for power generation purposes and the National Defense Planning Commission under the Kuomintang made the first survey of the proposed site in 1932, but the idea was shelved due to unfavorable political and economic conditions. Major floods resurrected the idea and the PRC government adopted it in 1954 for flood control.

The amount of power generated by the dam in 2009 was originally anticipated to supply about 10% of China's electricity needs, but with China's rapidly growing economy it is only projected to produce approximately 3% at the end of 2006[4]. In fact, the dam is predicted to produce 18.2 million kilowatts of electricity. According to a recent Discovery Channel special on the Three Gorges Dam, it will supply enough electricity to power a city four times larger than Los Angeles. That is a lot of energy

Cities such as Shanghai need ever-increasing electricity. With 26 hydro turbines generating up to 18 gigawatts of electricity—the equivalent of roughly eighteen coal power stations or 11,000 barrels of oil per hour—the Dam will help reduce this power shortage.

Answer 2

It's because the growing population needs more electricity. Even thought they've had to move the inhabitants of hundreds of small villages out of the flood zone, it is the best and cleanest way of making the power they need.
There's a brilliant National Geographic film available showing how they built the dam. Right from changing the old route of the river, moving the people and buildings (like temples, hundreds of which have been covered with water) to the building of the dam and the reopening of the original water route.
You only have to see the size of the thing and you realise the amount of power the water produces. But the cost, both human (emotional from the displacement) and monetary, has been huge.

Answer 3

its got to be for energy supply mainly hydro-electric power and flood control but it will make the rise of the Yangtze considerably higher i would have thought

Answer 4

Major hydroelectric power so China doesn't have to rely as much on coal fired power plants. It'll clean the air up a bit since they won't be burning as much, and the area won't flood as often.

Answer 5

Hydroelectric power and flood control .

Answer 6

So they can make electricity and have plenty of water.