Re: Re: China says troops rush to plug dangerous cracks in...

[Guest guest]

I have no idea. What I have heard is that the dams built under the Moa regime were not very sturdy or safe. Because of corruption, corners were cut, substandard materials were used, sluice gates didn't work, etc. It won't surprise me is this dam doesn't end up collapsing.

As for Three Gorges, it was probably a bit shoddy. It is also in a seismic area and I don't know how much they accounted for that. This river that it dams was one that periodically flooded, killing on a scale unheard of in the West. It even changed its course in these floods causing even more damage.

Worst of all in a way is that so many heritage sites were flooded. Many, many tombs are under water as are ancient villages. Who knows what all is lost. I know some investors who are upset about it because an effort was made to salvage as much as possible. That put artifacts and porcelain on the market in huge numbers. Items that used to go for maybe $250,000 now go for a few hundred maybe.

But yes, if Three Gorges goes, it will be a tremendous disaster, not only from the flooding, but from all the contaminated sediment that will be washed out into the sea.

In a message dated 5/14/2008 1:39:07 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, no_reply writes:

Here is what I find interesting: Before the construction of all these dams, did China do any sort of study regarding what all the added weight to their country would do to the bedrock underneath. One gallon of water equals 8 pounds in weight. Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food.