China’s Three Gorges Project, the world’s largest hydropower marvel, is celebrating 30 years of electrifying achievements—literally! 🎉 Since its construction began in 1994, this engineering giant has generated a staggering 1.7 trillion kilowatt-hours of clean energy—enough to power New York City for over 50 years! 💥
🔥 By the Numbers: The Ministry of Water Resources reports the project has saved 550 million tonnes of coal, slashing CO2 emissions by 1.49 billion tonnes. That’s like taking 320 million cars off the road for a year! 🌱
🚢 More Than Just Power: Beyond energy, the Three Gorges has intercepted floods 70+ times, boosted Yangtze River cargo traffic to 2.1 billion tonnes (💰 $4.78B/year in economic benefits!), and supplied 360 billion cubic meters of water to regions downstream. Talk about multitasking! 💧
🌳 Eco-Warrior Vibes: The reservoir area now boasts 50%+ forest coverage, upgraded sewage systems, and thriving biodiversity. It’s proof that green energy and nature can coexist—no cap. 🌿
