# Three Gorges (DD-643)

> 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.

- Department: Locations (also Tech)
- First published: 2025-08-26
- Last updated: 2025-08-26
- Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/three-gorges/
- Author: Marcus Easterling (DetailEnjoyer), The Detail Department

## On the timeline

- **December 1994**: Construction of the Three Gorges Dam formally begins
- **2006**: The main dam body is completed
- **July 4, 2012**: The last main generator is completed, bringing capacity to 22,500 MW
- **2020**: The Three Gorges project is certified complete

Full timeline: https://detailenjoyer.com/timeline/?case=three-gorges

## Quick facts

- **DD-643-F01**: Three Gorges has 22,500 MW of installed capacity. _(Write-up · Exhibit A (Biggest by capacity))_
- **DD-643-F02**: It generated a record 111.8 TWh in 2020. _(Write-up · Exhibit D (Record output))_

## Write-up

The world's biggest power plant. Three Gorges Dam: 22,500 MW on the Yangtze.

1. **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.
2. **How tall**: The dam's maximum height is 181 m. Its crest is at 185 m above sea level.
3. **When it was finished**: The last main generator came online in 2012, but the whole project was certified complete in 2020.
4. **Record output**: In 2020 it generated a record 111.8 TWh, against a design target of 88.2 TWh a year.
5. **The human cost**: About 1.3 million people were relocated to make way for the reservoir, according to Reuters.

## Related case files

- [Reservoir Ruin (DD-718)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/reservoir-ruin/): Another giant reservoir behind a dam
- [Guizhou Solar (DD-032)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/guizhou-solar/): More of China's power build-out

## Reel vs. record

- **Note**: 'Standing 185 m tall': 185 m is the crest's elevation above sea level. The dam's maximum height is 181 m (about 594 ft).
- **Note**: 'Completed in 2012': the last main generator came online in 2012 (Guinness gives July 4, 2012). The dam body was finished in 2006, and the whole project was certified complete in 2020.
- **Note**: 'Nearly 100 TWh annually': output varies with river flow. The design target is 88.2 TWh, and the record is 111.8 TWh (2020).
- **Note**: 'Largest hydroelectric power station': true by installed capacity (22,500 MW). Itaipu held the annual-output record until Three Gorges passed it in 2020.
- **Missing**: the dam is also built for flood control and shipping, and about 1.3 million people were relocated for its reservoir (Reuters).

## Video: Three Gorges: The World's Biggest Power Plant

- Duration: 24.8 s · Published: 2025-08-26
- File: https://detailenjoyer.com/assets/videos/DN0rO9Z4kGT.mp4

### Transcript

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!

## Questions & answers

**Q: What is Three Gorges' installed capacity?**  
A: 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)_

**Q: What is the dam's maximum height?**  
A: 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)_

**Q: How much did it generate in its record year, 2020?**  
A: 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)_

**Q: Which river does it dam?**  
A: 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)_

**Q: About how many people were relocated for the reservoir?**  
A: According to Reuters. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (The human cost) · Reuters: Thousands being moved from China's Three Gorges - again)_

## Sources

- [Guinness World Records: Highest capacity hydroelectric power station](https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/81347-largest-hydroelectric-power-station-output)
- [Engineering (2016): Key technologies of the hydraulic structures of the Three Gorges Project](https://www.engineering.org.cn/engi/EN/10.1016/J.ENG.2016.03.006)
- [China Three Gorges Corporation (Dec 31, 2020): Three Gorges Dam sets world record for annual power generation](https://www.ctg.com.cn/ctgenglish/news_media/news37/2024080621160591105/index.html)
- [People's Daily (Nov 4, 2020): Three Gorges project certified as complete, fully functioning](https://en.people.cn/n3/2020/1104/c90000-9776296.html)
- [Reuters: Thousands being moved from China's Three Gorges - again](https://www.reuters.com/article/business/environment/thousands-being-moved-from-chinas-three-gorges-again-idUSBRE87L0ZX/)

## 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/