1,2) The Three Gorges Dam is now under construction on the Yangtze the fourth largest river on the planet.3) According to the project’s designers the world’s largest dam will help prevent flooding in central and eastern China by holding back flood water in a new reservoir.4) The dam could also provide one third of China’s 1.2 billion people with as many as one-ninth of needed electric power saving 50 million tons of coal each year.4) But the new lake the dam creates will completely submerge 13 riverside cities 140 large towns and numerous small villages.6,7) Some 12 million people will have to relocate to less fertile areas on higher ground.8,9) Opponents to the project also contend that the rising water will threaten wildlife and permanently alter the spectacular three Gorges the steep-wall canyons for which the Gorges are named10) Worse yet an earthquake could stride Three Gorges with tragic consequences.