How long will it take to open all the gates and let out all the water in the Three Gorges Reservoir?

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In China, there is a huge water conservancy project known as one of the world's largest reservoirs, the Three Gorges Reservoir. Its water storage capacity reaches 39.3 billion cubic meters, and the water surface has risen by 175 meters. But if there is a daring administrator who opens all the gates together and allows water to flow freely, how long will it take to empty this massive storage capacity?

To answer this question, it is first necessary to understand the structure of the Three Gorges Dam, including the number and diameter of the gates. In this process, let's explore the story of this great water conservancy project together.

When it comes to water conservancy projects, China has always had a unique technological advantage. As early as over 2000 years ago, Qin sent Li Bing to Sichuan and discovered the agricultural potential of this land, but it was also frequently affected by floods. In the era without modern machinery and equipment, Li Bing built Dujiangyan Irrigation Project, the earliest water conservancy project in human history, by means of fire and water sprinkling.

Dujiangyan Irrigation Project is still playing a role today, and this miracle has also created the legend of the "Land of Abundance". Therefore, the Chinese people have rooted the spirit of infrastructure in their national bloodline and are unwilling to waste it in vain. Therefore, on December 14, 1994, the Three Gorges Project officially began construction, lasting 12 years. It was completed and put into use on May 20, 2006. The Three Gorges Reservoir is not only used for power generation, but also serves as an important regulating mechanism, playing a crucial role in summer flood control.

The Yangtze River is the mother river of China, but it is both a loving mother and a strict mother. The turbulent waters of the Yangtze River in summer have brought huge disasters to both sides. In 1981 and 1998, the Yangtze River was hit by catastrophic floods. Many people may not know that the actual storage capacity of the Yangtze River Reservoir far exceeds 39.3 billion cubic meters, with at least 20 billion cubic meters of space idle. This 20 billion cubic meters of space has been reserved for emergency use, especially during flood control. However, let's return to the initial question, how long will it take to empty the Three Gorges Reservoir if all the water gates are opened?

The Three Gorges Dam has a total of 54 gates, including 22 gates with a diameter of 8 meters, 23 gates with a diameter of 9 meters, and 9 backup gates. Once all gates are opened, the maximum drainage speed can reach 980000 cubic meters per second. Assuming that the Three Gorges Reservoir is already full of water, with a total storage capacity of 39.3 billion cubic meters, it is expected to take 4 to 5 days to empty according to the maximum drainage rate. Considering that the flow velocity in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River is 15000 cubic meters per second, it is preliminarily estimated that it will take approximately 7 days, or about a week, to complete the drainage.

39.3 billion cubic meters of water is equivalent to 90 the Taihu Lake Lake, which can be emptied in a week, which is an amazing speed. More importantly, these 39.3 billion cubic meters of water are actually excess reserves to cope with possible extreme flood situations. Therefore, for typical floods, the Three Gorges Dam may only take two to three days to complete drainage. With this national treasure, we can face the flood threat of the Yangtze River more calmly.

However, some people may be curious that the Three Gorges Dam spans the Yangtze River, so huge, how can shipping proceed? This leads to a black technology of the Three Gorges Dam - elevators.

A lifting platform has been designed for ferries specifically designed for navigation in the Three Gorges. When the ship enters the ferry, a platform will rise from the bottom of the water, lifting the ship to the surface of the dam, and then the ship can enter the reservoir and continue upstream navigation. This innovative design ensures smooth navigation of the Yangtze River, despite the existence of the Three Gorges Dam.

In addition to shipping, the Three Gorges Reservoir also has a beloved function, which is fish farming. The fish in the Three Gorges Reservoir are quite large in size, even surpassing the common fish on the market. However, these fish are mainly used to protect the diversity of freshwater fish in the Yangtze River, rather than for consumption.

Many people may not be aware that the Yangtze River has implemented a ten-year fishing ban policy since 2020, aimed at protecting its fragile ecosystem. The unique species of the Yangtze River, such as the Yangtze River sturgeon, have become extinct, and the Baiji dolphin has also been declared functionally extinct. Even the the four famous domestic fishes are facing great challenges due to the decline of genetic diversity, quality and resistance. However, the ecological environment of the Yangtze River Reservoir is very similar to that of the Yangtze River, and it is crucial to protect some local fish species in the Yangtze River

. The problem of invasive species in the Yangtze River is also quite serious, with foreign species such as scavengers, tilapia, and even carnivorous pomfrets gradually spreading in the Yangtze River, posing a serious threat to local fish. Introducing a portion of fish into the Three Gorges Reservoir helps them avoid these foreign invaders, thus preserving their valuable gene pool.

The Three Gorges Reservoir not only helps to protect fish diversity, but also has a positive impact on improving the environment, creating a wetland environment and becoming an ideal habitat for many migratory birds. After the completion of the reservoir, some rare birds such as the Hainan Tiger Bittern reappeared, which is considered one of the most endangered in the world. For decades, people have once again had the opportunity to witness the existence of this endangered species.

However, it should be pointed out that 39.3 billion cubic meters of water did not appear out of thin air, but was a huge sacrifice made during the construction of the Three Gorges Reservoir. Since 1992, the country has conducted large-scale immigration to the areas that are about to be submerged, totaling 1.2 million people, involving 20 counties and districts in Chongqing and Hubei. These immigrants include many ethnic minorities, whose ancestors have lived on this land for generations and have a deep affection for it. In addition, there is also the idea of "returning to roots after falling leaves" in traditional Chinese culture, which makes it difficult for many people to accept the fact that they will never be able to return to their homes. However, for the sake of national interests and future development, these people have chosen to migrate, known as the "Three Gorges immigrants".

Nowadays, the homes of the Three Gorges immigrants have been submerged by the reservoir, and they have to resettle in new places. However, we cannot forget their significant contributions in national water conservancy projects, which are for the development and security of China.

At the same time, the Three Gorges hydropower station represents an important turning point in China's energy industry. Prior to this, China mainly relied on thermal power generation, which required a large amount of coal and caused serious air pollution. Moreover, coal resources are limited, and although China has abundant coal resources, with population growth, these resources will eventually be depleted. Hydroelectric power generation is an extremely clean energy source, and most importantly, water is a renewable resource. As long as the Yangtze River is not depleted, water energy will not be depleted.

The terrain of China is distributed on three different water steps, and the Three Gorges is located at the intersection of the second and third steps, with a huge water drop, making it suitable for building hydropower stations. The Three Gorges Dam stores water and then releases it by opening the gate, converting the gravitational potential energy of the water into kinetic energy, thereby utilizing the water flow to rotate the generator for power generation. This power generation method is similar to tidal energy. Due to the presence of dams, water flow can be controlled, thus also controlling the output of power generation. Hydroelectric power generation is currently the only clean energy power generation method that can compete with thermal power generation, while other new energy sources generally face the problem of high costs.

Therefore, after the Three Gorges Hydropower Station was put into operation, China's power industry has achieved rapid development, and State Grid has become one of the Fortune 500 companies. China has multiple large-scale hydropower stations, including the Three Gorges Hydropower Station, Xiluodu, Baihetan, Wudongde, and Xiangjiaba. It can be said that China's hydropower stations have gradually replaced thermal power generation and become the main representative of clean energy.

These hydropower stations not only generate electricity, but also regulate summer water levels to ensure the safety of both sides. Although floods still occur in the Yangtze River every year, their impact has been greatly reduced. All of this is attributed to these water conservancy projects led by the Three Gorges Hydropower Station.

In summary, the Three Gorges Reservoir is not only a water conservancy project in China, but also a comprehensive reflection of ecological protection, power generation, shipping, and social development. It represents China's tremendous achievements in water resource management and clean energy, while also highlighting the selfless dedication of the people and their deep affection for the country. Through massive water conservancy projects, China has not only provided guarantees for today's development, but also left a valuable legacy for the future of future generations.

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