Locks

The final morning of the cruise was spent touring the Three Gorges Dam. It's a massive site, and (surprise, surprise) the largest hydroelectric dam in the world. We went through the locks the night before, which were particularly impressive, having seen Panama's a few years ago. Four- six cruise boat size boats can fit in each lock!

Monks on an elevator

The final stage of construction is a ship elevator which will allow lighter ships to pass through the dam in 45 minutes. Interestingly, the Yangtze River doesn't have enough power to actually utilize the number of turbines they installed. (Though it does give them bragging rights for having the most turbines.) Smaller dams can generate more electricity. The main purpose for the dam, as we were told over and over again, was to control flooding.

Three Gorges Dam

(Here's another area where my ignorance was blaring. Do most people know the top five largest dams, and not only know their names but how many turbines they have, how much energy they generate etc. As we were visiting Carlos, from Spain and Gerritt from South Africa, spoke articulately about the Hoover Dam, the Itaipu Dam in Brazil (I had to look that one up) and even the Grand Coulee Dam in WA, Tom contributed his fair share to the conversation. When did I miss the unit on dams?)

I love visiting sites like these with Tom, because his enthusiasm and appreciation is infectious. I simply don't know enough about engineering to fully appreciate wonders like these, but hearing Tom gush about them, gives me an inkling about the scientific feat behind them.