Three Gorges
Short answer: The Three Gorges Dam crosses the Yangtze at Sandouping, near Yichang in Hubei province, China. By installed capacity it's the world's largest power station: 22,500 MW from 32 main 700 MW generators plus two 50 MW units that power the plant itself.
The concrete gravity dam is about 2.3 km long, 2,309.5 m along its axis or 2,335 m by another measure. Its maximum height is 181 m, and its crest sits at 185 m above sea level, which is where the Reel's '185 m' comes from. The reservoir normally holds water at 175 m. Construction formally began in December 1994. The dam body was finished in 2006, and Guinness dates the last main generator to July 4, 2012. The whole project wasn't certified complete until 2020, after the ship lift and other works. Output depends on river flow. The design target is 88.2 TWh a year, and in 2020 it set a world record of 111.8 TWh for a single hydropower plant. Besides power, the project is meant for flood control and navigation, through a five-step double ship lock and a ship lift that raises vessels up to 113 m. According to Reuters, about 1.3 million people were relocated to make way for the reservoir.
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What should you know about Three Gorges?
Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.
Three Gorges has 22,500 MW of installed capacity.
It generated a record 111.8 TWh in 2020.
Video transcript: Three Gorges: The World's Biggest Power Plant
DID YOU KNOW? The Three Gorges Dam spanning the Yangtze River in Hubei province, China, is the largest hydroelectric power station in the world, stretching about 2.3 km or 1.4 mi long, and standing 185 m or 607 ft tall. Completed in 2012, it has a generating capacity of 22,500 MW, capable of producing nearly 100 TWh of electricity annually. NOW YOU KNOW!
Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 24.8s Reel ·
The write-up
The world's biggest power plant. Three Gorges Dam: 22,500 MW on the Yangtze.
- Exhibit A
Biggest by capacity
Thirty-two 700 MW generators and two 50 MW units add up to 22,500 MW, the most of any power station.
- Exhibit B
How tall
The dam's maximum height is 181 m. Its crest is at 185 m above sea level.
- Exhibit C
When it was finished
The last main generator came online in 2012, but the whole project was certified complete in 2020.
- Exhibit D
Record output
In 2020 it generated a record 111.8 TWh, against a design target of 88.2 TWh a year.
- Exhibit E
The human cost
About 1.3 million people were relocated to make way for the reservoir, according to Reuters.
Questions people ask about Three Gorges
What is Three Gorges' installed capacity?
32 x 700 MW plus 2 x 50 MW.
Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Biggest by capacity) · Guinness World Records: Highest capacity hydroelectric power station; Engineering (2016): Key technologies of the hydraulic structures of the Three Gorges Project
What is the dam's maximum height?
Its crest is at 185 m above sea level.
Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (How tall) · Engineering (2016): Key technologies of the hydraulic structures of the Three Gorges Project
How much did it generate in its record year, 2020?
A world record for one hydropower plant.
Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Record output) · China Three Gorges Corporation (Dec 31, 2020): Three Gorges Dam sets world record for annual power generation
Which river does it dam?
The Yangtze, in Hubei.
Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Biggest by capacity) · Guinness World Records: Highest capacity hydroelectric power station; Engineering (2016): Key technologies of the hydraulic structures of the Three Gorges Project
About how many people were relocated for the reservoir?
According to Reuters.
Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (The human cost) · Reuters: Thousands being moved from China's Three Gorges - again
Test Your Knowledge
All quizzes →5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.
What is Three Gorges' installed capacity?
- 22,500 MW
- 2,250 MW
- 225 MW
- 225,000 MW
Show the answer
Answer: A. 22,500 MW 32 x 700 MW plus 2 x 50 MW. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Biggest by capacity) · Guinness World Records: Highest capacity hydroelectric power station; Engineering (2016): Key technologies of the hydraulic structures of the Three Gorges Project
What is the dam's maximum height?
- 181 m
- 81 m
- 281 m
- 18 m
Show the answer
Answer: A. 181 m Its crest is at 185 m above sea level. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (How tall) · Engineering (2016): Key technologies of the hydraulic structures of the Three Gorges Project
How much did it generate in its record year, 2020?
- 111.8 TWh
- 11.2 TWh
- 1,118 TWh
- 1.1 TWh
Show the answer
Answer: A. 111.8 TWh A world record for one hydropower plant. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Record output) · China Three Gorges Corporation (Dec 31, 2020): Three Gorges Dam sets world record for annual power generation
Which river does it dam?
- The Yangtze
- The Yellow River
- The Mekong
- The Pearl River
Show the answer
Answer: A. The Yangtze The Yangtze, in Hubei. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Biggest by capacity) · Guinness World Records: Highest capacity hydroelectric power station; Engineering (2016): Key technologies of the hydraulic structures of the Three Gorges Project
About how many people were relocated for the reservoir?
- About 1.3 million
- About 13,000
- About 130 million
- About 1,300
Show the answer
Answer: A. About 1.3 million According to Reuters. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (The human cost) · Reuters: Thousands being moved from China's Three Gorges - again
Cite this case file
Easterling, Marcus. "Three Gorges." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-643, last updated Aug 26, 2025. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/three-gorges/
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