Three Gorges Dam

engineering · energy · China · rivers

Massive power producer. The Three Gorges Dam generates about 95 trillion watts of electricity per year on average, making it the world's largest power station by capacity. In 2020, it broke its own record by producing nearly 112 trillion watts in a single year.

Gravity dam design. The dam works by using the weight of water pressing against it to hold back the Yangtze River. This creates a huge reservoir that powers turbines to make electricity without burning any fuel.

Located in China. The Three Gorges Dam stretches across the Yangtze River near the city of Yichang in Hubei province in central China. It sits just downstream from a famous section of the river known as the Three Gorges.

Record breaker. The dam is so powerful that it surpassed the Itaipu Dam in Brazil, which held the electricity production record for years. It shows how modern engineering can harness nature's power on an enormous scale.