Go to zReportage.com: CHINA'S COLOSSAL DAM: Chinese leaders boast that the Three Gorges Dam will tame the Yangtze River's deadly floods and produce the equivalent energy of 15 nuclear power plants. However, the 17-year project, which reaches completion in 2009, will also displace 1.2 million people and engulf many ancient archeological and cultural sites dating back to 202 B.C. ZUMA Press Photojournalist Jeffrey A. Austin returns to the Yangtze after two years to examine its progress and witness firsthand its cultural and environmental impact.
© Jeffrey A. Austin/ZUMA Wire
Oct. 23, 2002 - Zigui, China - Old Zigui-relocation village. Workers excavating ancient city. The Three Gorges Dam project, the largest hydroelectric dam in the world, nearing completion in central China on the Yangtze river, will result in the creation of a giant reservoir lake and immerse hundreds of ancient towns, villages and major archaeological sites, as well as displacing up to 2 million people.
© Jeffrey A. Austin/ZUMAPRESS.com
Oct. 23, 2002 - Fengdu, China - Fengdu-Relocation city. Old bridge in foreground that will be submerged with new bridge in background reflecting new water level. The Three Gorges Dam project, the largest hydroelectric dam in the world, nearing completion in central China on the Yangtze river, will result in the creation of a giant reservoir lake and immerse hundreds of ancient towns, villages and major archaeological sites, as well as displacing up to 2 million people.
© Jeffrey A. Austin/ZUMAPRESS.com
Wanxian-relocation city. Worker hauling materials for use in building new bridge
© Jeffrey A. Austin/ZUMAPRESS.com
Badong-Yangtze river, new bridge under construction linking the two parts of the new city together
© Jeffrey A. Austin/ZUMAPRESS.com
October 23, 2002 - Zigui, China - Old Zigui-relocation village. Distributing rat poison to be spread along the river and in villages. The Three Gorges Dam project, the largest hydroelectric dam in the world, nearing completion in central China on the Yangtze river, will result in the creation of a giant reservoir lake and immerse hundreds of ancient towns, villages and major archaeological sites, as well as displacing up to 2 million people.
© Jeffrey A. Austin/zReportage.com via ZUMA Press
Oct. 23, 2002 - Zigui, China - Old Zigui-relocation village. Workers excavating ancient city. The Three Gorges Dam project, the largest hydroelectric dam in the world, nearing completion in central China on the Yangtze river, will result in the creation of a giant reservoir lake and immerse hundreds of ancient towns, villages and major archaeological sites, as well as displacing up to 2 million people.
© Jeffrey A. Austin/ZUMAPRESS.com
Oct. 23, 2002 - Yangtze, China - Fisherman with his nets on the Yangtze River. The Three Gorges Dam project, the largest hydroelectric dam in the world, nearing completion in central China on the Yangtze river, will result in the creation of a giant reservoir lake and immerse hundreds of ancient towns, villages and major archaeological sites, as well as displacing up to 2 million people.
© Jeffrey A. Austin/ZUMAPRESS.com
Oct. 23, 2002 - New Zigui, China - New Zigui-Workers rebuilding ancient ancestral temple moved from Laogington to save it from being submerged when the dam is flooded in 2003. The Three Gorges Dam project, the largest hydroelectric dam in the world, nearing completion in central China on the Yangtze river, will result in the creation of a giant reservoir lake and immerse hundreds of ancient towns, villages and major archaeological sites, as well as displacing up to 2 million people.
© Jeffrey A. Austin/ZUMAPRESS.com
Wanxian-relocation city. Worker building new bridge
© Jeffrey A. Austin/ZUMAPRESS.com
Oct. 23, 2002 - Xintian, China - Xintian-relocation city. Workers salvaging large stone blocks for use in new construction on higher elevations. The Three Gorges Dam project, the largest hydroelectric dam in the world, nearing completion in central China on the Yangtze river, will result in the creation of a giant reservoir lake and immerse hundreds of ancient towns, villages and major archaeological sites, as well as displacing up to 2 million people.
© Jeffrey A. Austin/ZUMAPRESS.com
Badong-relocation City. workers moving rocks to be used in building new construction
© Jeffrey A. Austin/ZUMAPRESS.com
Workers climbing side of dam
© Jeffrey A. Austin/ZUMAPRESS.com
Worker in shiplock with giant cranes above.
© Jeffrey A. Austin/zReportage.com via ZUMA Press
Oct. 16, 2002 - Yangtze River, China - Tour boat on left bank of Yangtze River. The Three Gorges Dam project, the largest hydroelectric dam in the world, nearing completion in central China on the Yangtze river, will result in the creation of a giant reservoir lake and immerse hundreds of ancient towns, villages and major archaeological sites, as well as displacing up to 2 million people.
© Jeffrey A. Austin/ZUMAPRESS.com
Oct. 23, 2002 - Dachan, China - Workers dismantling building and moving materials to rebuild on higher elevation. The Three Gorges Dam project, the largest hydroelectric dam in the world, nearing completion in central China on the Yangtze river, will result in the creation of a giant reservoir lake and immerse hundreds of ancient towns, villages and major archaeological sites, as well as displacing up to 2 million people.
© Jeffrey A. Austin/ZUMAPRESS.com
Oct. 23, 2002 - New Zigui, China - New Zigui-workers building new ship docking ramp in expectation of water level rising 135 meters. The Three Gorges Dam project, the largest hydroelectric dam in the world, nearing completion in central China on the Yangtze river, will result in the creation of a giant reservoir lake and immerse hundreds of ancient towns, villages and major archaeological sites, as well as displacing up to 2 million people.
© Jeffrey A. Austin/ZUMAPRESS.com
