Wuhan, China
China blew up a temporary dam along the Yangtze River this week and released the waters to the Three Gorges Dam. The latter is now holding back the river, but its other function, generating electricity, won’t be running for another two years. Three Gorges is intended to control the Yangtze’s annual floods, which have killed 300,000 in the past century. The project drew opposition from environmentalists and historic preservationists worldwide. More than 1 million people were relocated and hundreds of villages destroyed for the construction of the $25 billion dam.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
How will Trump's megabill affect you?Today's Big Question Republicans have passed the 'big, beautiful bill' through Congress
-
Scientists are the latest 'refugees'In the spotlight Brain drain to brain gain
-
5 dreamy books to dive into this JulyThe Week Recommends A 'politically charged' collection of essays, historical fiction goes sci-fi and more
