Three Gorges Dam
The Three Gorges Key Water Conservancy Project on the Yangtze River (the Three Gorges Project) includes a concrete gravity dam, a sluice gate, a hydropower station behind the dam, a permanent navigation ship lock and a ship lift. The architectures of the Three Gorges Project are composed of the dam, the factory buildings of the hydropower stations and navigation structures. The dam is 9,957 feet long, and 607 feet high. On the left bank of the hydropower station there are 14 generators; on the right bank, 12 generators, totaling 26. Each water turbo generator has an installed capacity of 700,000kw, totaling 18.2 million kw, and the hydropower station generates 84.7 billion kwh of electricity. The navigation structures stand on the left bank; and the permanent navigation structures include the five-class stair ship lock and the single-line first-class ship lift.

The Three Gorges Project is divided into three phases, lasting a total of 18 years. The first-phase project extended five years (1992-1997), mainly for preparations. The second-phase project spans six years (1998-2003), mainly for the construction of facilities for hydropower stations, the flood discharge sluice and a permanent ship lock, and the installation of generating units on the left bank of the dam. The third-phase project will last six years (2003-2009), when the construction of the dam and power stations on the right bank, and the installation of all generating units will be completed.