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The Three Gorges (simplified Chinese: 三峡; traditional Chinese: 三峽; pinyin: Sānxiá listen now ) region is a scenic area along the Yangtze River in the People's Republic of China with a total length of approximately 200 km. The Three Gorges occupy approximately 120 km within this region. Although it is primarily famous for its scenery, the Three Gorges region is historically and culturally an important region in China. A representation of the westernmost gorge appears on China's currency, the back of the paper 5 yuan note.
| Gorge | Chinese | Length (km) | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qutang Gorge | 瞿塘峡 | 8 | from Baidicheng (Fengjie) to Daxi |
| Wu Gorge | 巫峡 | 45 | from Wushan to Guandukou (Badong) |
| Xiling Gorge | 西陵峡 | 66 | from Zigui to Nanjin Pass (Yichang) |
The Three Gorges region is located along the Yangtze River between the cities of Fengjie (奉节) and Yichang in Chongqing municipality and Hubei province.
The Three Gorges region attracted attention globally due to the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, which is changing the scenery of the region.
Three Gorges Dam
The Three Gorges Dam was constructed at a place called Sandouping (三斗坪) in the middle of the Xiling Gorge. The reservoir was completed in the summer of 2006, and the water level in the Qutang, Wuxia, and the western portion of the Xiling Gorges has already begun to rise. The dam itself is projected to be completed in 2009. In addition to the impacts of the dam on the ecology and people (i.e. the mass relocation of towns and villages) of the region, the dam will also change the scenery of the Three Gorges. Because the water level will be higher, the river will be wider and the mountains will appear lower. Proponents of the dam point out that because the mountains reach several thousand feet above the river, the gorges are still likely to offer spectacular views of the surrounding cliffs, and it should be noted that most riverboat companies that operate in the Three Gorges intend to continue to offer tours of the region. The increase in width of the Gorges will also allow larger ships through the gorges, and it is anticipated that river traffic of all kinds will increase.
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- This page was last modified on 12 November 2008, at 19:02.
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