On This Day

Construction begins on the Three Gorges Dam, China

The Three Gorges Dam, officially known as Yangtze River Three Gorges Water Conservancy Project is a hydroelectric gravity dam that spans the Yangtze River near Sandouping in Yiling District, Yichang,...

The Three Gorges Dam, officially known as Yangtze River Three Gorges Water Conservancy Project is a hydroelectric gravity dam that spans the Yangtze River near Sandouping in Yiling District, Yichang, Hubei province, central China, downstream of the Three Gorges. The world's largest power station by installed capacity (22,500 MW), the Three Gorges Dam generates 95±20 TWh of electricity per year on average, depending on the amount of precipitation in the river basin. After the monsoons of 2020, the dam produced nearly 112 TWh in a year, breaking the record of 103 TWh set by the Itaipu Dam in 2016.

The dam's body, 185 meters high and 2,309 meters wide, was completed in 2006.

Historical Significance

The Three Gorges Dam, officially known as Yangtze River Three Gorges Water Conservancy Project is a hydroelectric gravity dam that spans the Yangtze River near Sandouping in Yiling District, Yichang, Hubei province, central China, downstream of the Three Gorges.

Events Before

  1. Bryson Tiller is born

    Bryson Tiller musician, known for american singer, was born on 1993-01-02. Bryson Djuan Tiller is an American R&B singer and rapper.

  2. "Farewell My Concubine," directed by Chen Kaige from a novel by Lilian Lee, starring Leslie Cheung, Zhang Fengyi, and Go

    "Farewell My Concubine," directed by Chen Kaige from a novel by Lilian Lee, starring Leslie Cheung, Zhang Fengyi, and Gong Li, premieres in Hong Kong (wins Cannes Palme d'Or 1993)

  3. Brian Lara scores his maiden Test century with 277 for the West Indies v Australia in drawn 3rd Test at the Sydney Crick

    Brian Lara scores his maiden Test century with 277 for the West Indies v Australia in drawn 3rd Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground

  4. Michael Jordan's game-high 35 points leads Chicago Bulls to a 120-95 win over Milwaukee Bucks, giving him exactly 20,000

    Michael Jordan's game-high 35 points leads Chicago Bulls to a 120-95 win over Milwaukee Bucks, giving him exactly 20,000 points in the 620th game of his NBA career, the second-fastest to reach this milestone after Wilt Chamberlain (499)

  5. US Senator Mitch McConnell (51) weds businesswoman Elaine Chao (39)

    US Senator Mitch McConnell (51) weds businesswoman Elaine Chao (39)

Events After

  1. Poppy [Moriah Rose Pereira] is born

    Poppy [Moriah Rose Pereira] is born

  2. Centennial of the Canadian Mounties' presence in Canada's Yukon Territory

    Centennial of the Canadian Mounties' presence in Canada's Yukon Territory

  3. Camilla Parker Bowles (46) and her husband retired Army Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles(55) divorce, after 21 years of ma

    Camilla Parker Bowles (46) and her husband retired Army Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles(55) divorce, after 21 years of marriage

  4. "Back for Good" single released by British boy band Take That, reaches No. 1 in 31 countries

    Take That are an English pop group formed in Manchester in 1990. The group currently consists of Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen.

  5. American actress Julia Roberts (27) and American singer-songwriter Lyle Lovett (37) divorce after less than 2 years of m

    American actress Julia Roberts (27) and American singer-songwriter Lyle Lovett (37) divorce after less than 2 years of marriage

More from the 1990s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on December 14, 1994?
The Three Gorges Dam, officially known as Yangtze River Three Gorges Water Conservancy Project is a hydroelectric gravity dam that spans the Yangtze River near Sandouping in Yiling District, Yichang, Hubei province, central China, downstream of the Three Gorges. The world's largest power station by installed capacity (22,500 MW), the Three Gorges Dam generates 95±20 TWh of electricity per year on average, depending on the amount of precipitation in the river basin. After the monsoons of 2020, the dam produced nearly 112 TWh in a year, breaking the record of 103 TWh set by the Itaipu Dam in 2016.
Why is Construction begins on the Three Gorges Dam, China significant?
The Three Gorges Dam, officially known as Yangtze River Three Gorges Water Conservancy Project is a hydroelectric gravity dam that spans the Yangtze River near Sandouping in Yiling District, Yichang, Hubei province, central China, downstream of the Three Gorges.

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