Workers hold up a layout plan of the Three Gorges Dam project by the Yangtze river in Hubei province in September 1995. Scroll through the gallery for images of the Three Gorges Dam, through the years.
Workers hold up a layout plan of the Three Gorges Dam project by the Yangtze river in Hubei province in September 1995. Scroll through the gallery for images of the Three Gorges Dam, through the years.
Chip HIRES/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images
Workers carry a large piece of stone at the building site of the Three Gorges Dam in September 1995.<br />
Workers carry a large piece of stone at the building site of the Three Gorges Dam in September 1995.
Chip HIRES/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images
A cruise ship passes part of the Three Gorges Dam's left bank towering over the Yangtze river on June 12,1999 during the dam's construction.
A cruise ship passes part of the Three Gorges Dam's left bank towering over the Yangtze river on June 12,1999 during the dam's construction.
Stephen Shaver/AFP/Getty Images
Rock excavation takes place for the dam's ship channel in 2000.
Rock excavation takes place for the dam's ship channel in 2000.
Avalon/Construction Photography/Alamy
Residents of Fengjie, in southwest China's Chongqing, watch the demolition of buildings in their town on November 4, 2002, to make room for the Three Gorges Dam's resevoir.
Residents of Fengjie, in southwest China's Chongqing, watch the demolition of buildings in their town on November 4, 2002, to make room for the Three Gorges Dam's resevoir.
AFP/Getty Images
Workers celebrate the completion of the cofferdam for the Three Gorges Dam in 2002.<br />
Workers celebrate the completion of the cofferdam for the Three Gorges Dam in 2002.
Shutterstock
Trucks dump rocks across the last remaining section of a diversion canal linked to the Yangtze river, as workers prepare to dam the Yangtze on November 6, 2002.
Trucks dump rocks across the last remaining section of a diversion canal linked to the Yangtze river, as workers prepare to dam the Yangtze on November 6, 2002.
AFP/Getty Images
Surveyors work during the construction of the Three Gorges Dam on March 25, 2003.
Surveyors work during the construction of the Three Gorges Dam on March 25, 2003.
Avalon/Construction Photography/Alamy
A worker welds on a flood relief channel of the Three Gorges Dam in June 1, 2003.
A worker welds on a flood relief channel of the Three Gorges Dam in June 1, 2003.
Sipa/Shutterstock
Water gushes out through the Three Gorges Dam for the first time on June 11, 2003.
Water gushes out through the Three Gorges Dam for the first time on June 11, 2003.
AFP/Getty Images
A passenger ship passes through the ship locks of the Three Gorges Dam on June 16, 2003.
A passenger ship passes through the ship locks of the Three Gorges Dam on June 16, 2003.
AFP/Getty Images
A satellite image of the dam, captured on June 17, 2003.<br />
A satellite image of the dam, captured on June 17, 2003.
DigitalGlobe/Getty Images
The ship locks of the Three Gorges Dam captured in a photo on December 4, 2004.<br />
The ship locks of the Three Gorges Dam captured in a photo on December 4, 2004.
Robert Ng/South China Morning Post/Getty Images
Chinese tourists posed for photos in front of the construction site of the Three Gorges Dam on October 29, 2005.
Chinese tourists posed for photos in front of the construction site of the Three Gorges Dam on October 29, 2005.
Liu Jin/AFP/Getty Images
A farmer watches as workers carry out construction on the final part of the main body of the Three Gorges Dam on May 19, 2006.
A farmer watches as workers carry out construction on the final part of the main body of the Three Gorges Dam on May 19, 2006.
China Photos/Getty Images
The cofferdam protecting the main wall of the Three Gorges Dam is blown up from underwater on June 6, 2006. The removal of the cofferdam allowed the Three Gorges Dam to formally start its role in flood control.
The cofferdam protecting the main wall of the Three Gorges Dam is blown up from underwater on June 6, 2006. The removal of the cofferdam allowed the Three Gorges Dam to formally start its role in flood control.
China Photos/Getty Images
A policeman guards the top of the Three Gorges Dam on June 25, 2006.
A policeman guards the top of the Three Gorges Dam on June 25, 2006.
Andrew Wong/Getty Images
The ship locks of the Three Gorges Dam are seen under construction on April 17, 2008.<br />
The ship locks of the Three Gorges Dam are seen under construction on April 17, 2008.
Arnold Drapkin/ZUMA Press/Alamy
This picture taken on July 4, 2012 shows the last of the power generators being installed at the Three Gorges Dam's underground power station, allowing it to generate electricity at full capacity.
This picture taken on July 4, 2012 shows the last of the power generators being installed at the Three Gorges Dam's underground power station, allowing it to generate electricity at full capacity.
STR/AFP/Getty Images
Armed police patrol march by the Three Gorges Dam as flood water is released from its spillways on July 25, 2012.
Armed police patrol march by the Three Gorges Dam as flood water is released from its spillways on July 25, 2012.
Wang Jiaman/Chine Nouvelle/Sipa//Shutterstock
A night view of the illuminated Three Gorges Dam on October 17, 2017.
A night view of the illuminated Three Gorges Dam on October 17, 2017.
VCG/Getty Images
This aerial picture taken on June 29, 2020 shows water being released from the Three Gorges Dam.
This aerial picture taken on June 29, 2020 shows water being released from the Three Gorges Dam.
STR/AFP/Getty Images