Rise of the Three Gorges Dam
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Some call it the eighth wonder of world; others say it's the next Great Wall of China. Upon completion in 2009, the Three Gorges Dam will be the world's largest hydroelectric power generator. One of the few man-made structures so enormous that it's actually visible to the naked eye from space, NASA's Landsat satellite has had a closer look, providing detailed, vivid views of the dam since its inception in 1994. The dam is built along the Yangtze River, the third largest in the world, stretching more than 3,900 miles across China before reaching its mouth near Shanghai. Historically, the river has been prone to massive flooding, overflowing its banks about once every ten years. During the 20th century alone, Chinese authorities estimate that some 300,000 people were killed from Yangtze River floods. The dam is designed to greatly improve flood control on the river and protect the 15 million people and 3.7 million acres of farmland in the lower Yangtze flood plains. Observations from the NASA-built Landsat satellites provide an overview of the dam's construction. The earliest data set, from 1987, shows the region prior to start of construction. By 2000, construction along each riverbank was underway, but sediment-filled water still flowed through a narrow channel near the river's south bank. The 2004 data shows development of the main wall and the partial filling of the reservoir, including numerous side canyons. By mid-2006, construction of the main wall was completed and a reservoir more than 2 miles (3 kilometers) across had filled just upstream of the dam. To read more about the Three Gorges Dam, please click here. This animation was designed in three parts: Part 1: The first part of this animation zooms in to the Three Gorges Dam and travels backward and forward through time emphasizing the dam construction and filling of the reservoir. This animation then continues seemlessly into Part 2. Part 2: Starting where Part 1 leaves off, the camera flies up the 2006 data showing the high water levels that have already filled the multiple gorges upstream. Part 3: Identical to Part 2, except showing the 1987 data prior to the dam construction.
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Part 1: This animation zooms into the Three Gorges Dam area. Initially, we arrive with a view of the dam and the reservoir in 2006. We then travel back in time, deconstructing the dam and draining the reservoir revealing what the Yangtze River looked like in 1987. We then travel forward through time, visiting the site in 2000, 2004, and 2006, watching the reservoir fill as construction of the dam continues.
Duration: 21.0 seconds
Available formats:
1280x720 (59.94 fps)
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(Zoom in to dam)
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Part 2: This animation flies over the Three Gorges Dam area in 2006 revealing the massive rise in water level far upstream.
Duration: 28.0 seconds
Available formats:
1280x720 (59.94 fps)
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320x180
PNG
295 KB
512x288 (60 fps)
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9 MB
1280x720 (60 fps)
MPEG-2
57 MB
1280x720 (60 fps)
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23 MB
960x540 (60 fps)
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23 MB
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Part 3: This animation flies over the Three Gorges Dam area in 1987 showing the Yangtze River prior to the construction of the dam.
Duration: 28.0 seconds
Available formats:
1280x720 (59.94 fps)
Frames
320x180
PNG
293 KB
512x288 (60 fps)
MPEG-1
9 MB
960x540 (60 fps)
MPEG-4
23 MB
1280x720 (60 fps)
MPEG-4
23 MB
1280x720 (60 fps)
MPEG-2
58 MB
How to play our movies
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Final cut of the 3 Gorges animation as released via NASA TV utilizing all 3 elements listed above.
Duration: 51.0 seconds
Available formats:
1280x720 (59.94 fps)
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(Final composite)
320x180
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298 KB
512x288 (60 fps)
MPEG-1
17 MB
1280x720 (60 fps)
MPEG-2
108 MB
1280x720 (60 fps)
MPEG-4
43 MB
960x540 (60 fps)
MPEG-4
43 MB
How to play our movies
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A 1987 bird's eye view of the Three Gorges Dam region as seen with Landsat-5.
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A year 2000 bird's eye view of the Three Gorges Dam region as seen with Landsat-7. Construction of the dam has begun.
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314 KB
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A 2004 bird's eye view of the Three Gorges Dam area. Dam construction is now well underway and the reservoir has begun to fill.
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11 MB
320 x 180
PNG
305 KB
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A 2006 bird's eye view of the Three Gorges Dam region. Progress on the dam is well underway.
Available formats:
3840 x 2160
TIFF
11 MB
320 x 180
PNG
303 KB
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