Three Gorges Dam

We left the dock at 5:30 am for the Three Gorges Dam. We reached Gezhouba Dam, the first dam built on the Yangtze River around 6:00 am. We reached Sandouping and went ashore to visit the largest hydroelectricity project in the world, the Three Gorges Dam. It was unbelievable. Ward said it would like damming up the Colorado River and filling up the Grand Canyon. 2/3 of the dam is complete. All told there will be 24 turbines, the largest turbines in the world. Four turbines were provided by Germany, France, GE in Canada and Sweden. The Chinese then took the best of each design and built the rest. There is a series of 5 locks. Four are in operation now, the fifth will be when filling the resevoir is complete. This dam will provide China with 50% of their electricity needs. It is an immense structure. There also is a ship lift for smaller boats. It is not in operation at the moment due to "techinical" problems. They have determined that the size and construction of the cable may not bear the weight without breaking. Over 1.1 million people were displaced as a result of the construction. Not only did the government move the people but trees as well - especially orange trees. As we passed through the western section of the Xiling Gorge you could see the old villages that have been torn down and new buildings built further up the Gorge. I don't know how these folks can walk let along farm on the steep hillsides.

The gorges are beautiful. There is normally a fog that surrounds them. I can see how this area would be talked about as magical and mystical.

The was a captain's welcome reception in the evening and the night wrapped up with the crew modeling a varioety of Chinese traditional costumes, from various regions and eras of China. They were beautiful.

Everone seems to be feeling better! Last night was the first good nights sleep. The key is early to bed early to rise. Things get noisy at about 5:30 every morning.