The Three Gorges Multipurpose Water Control Project on the Yangtze River in China is one of the largest engineering projects in history. When complete, it will rival the Great Wall in technical and cultural significance. Unlike the Great Wall, however, and in accord with contemporary notions of scientific and technological decision making, the Three Gorges Dam has been the subject of considerable ethical and environmental assessment.

Historical Background and Description

The Yangtze River originates at 6,000 meters (20,000 feet) in the mountains of Tibet and then flows for 6,300 kilometers (3,900 miles) east through central China, passing through Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province, before emptying into the East China Sea, through the port of Shanghai. From Shanghai, for the first 2,500 kilometers up the lower river is generally broad, calm, and navigable, serving as a major transportation artery as it flows through the traditional rice basket of China...