Ever heard of a dam so big it can be seen from space? 🚀 Well, the Three Gorges Project in the Chinese mainland just celebrated its 30th anniversary, and it's nothing short of epic!
Since kicking off construction three decades ago, this colossal hydropower project has generated over 1.7 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity. That's like powering a million fiestas nonstop! 🎉
But wait, there's more! This green energy milestone is equivalent to saving 550 million tonnes of coal and cutting down 1.49 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions. Talk about giving Mother Earth a big hug! 🌎🤗
Back in July 2003, the first hydropower generator started buzzing, and since then, the dam has been a game-changer. Not only has it tamed floods almost 70 times, but it's also boosted social and economic vibes across the region. 💪
Navigating the mighty Yangtze River? Piece of cake now! 🍰 Thanks to improved routes, over 2.1 billion tonnes of cargo have sailed smoothly, raking in an average of 34.4 billion yuan ($4.78 billion) annually. Cha-ching! 💰
But the Three Gorges isn't just about power and money. It's also been a water hero, supplying over 360 billion cubic meters of water to the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze. That's a lot of hydration! 🚰
The cherry on top? The environment in the reservoir area is thriving. With daily sewage treatment up by 1.58 million tonnes and forest coverage soaring past 50%, the project is helping nature bounce back big time. 🌳🌿
So here's to 30 years of the Three Gorges Project – lighting up lives, protecting the planet, and making waves (literally)! 🎂✨
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
