Zipingpu Dam

Zipingpu Dam
Location of Zipingpu Dam in China
Coordinates	31°02′07″N 103°34′26″E / 31.03528°N 103.57389°ECoordinates: 31°02′07″N 103°34′26″E / 31.03528°N 103.57389°E
Construction began	March 2001
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Embankment, concrete-face rock-fill
Impounds	Min River
Height	156 metres (512 ft)
Length	663 m (2,175 ft)
Reservoir
Creates	Zipingpu Reservoir
Total capacity	1,120,000,000 cubic metres (907,999 acre·ft)
Power station
Installed capacity	760 MW

Zipingpu Dam (紫坪铺水利枢纽) is an embankment dam on the Min River near the city of Dujiangyan, Sichuan Province^[1] in southwest China. It consists of four generators with a total generating capacity of 760 MW.^[2] Construction began in 2001 and was finished late 2006. The dam was originally a work from the Shu-Han nearly 2000 years ago.

The traditional Dujiangyan Irrigation System consisting of canals, levees, and dams, has been in use since 256 AD.

Controversy

A view from the north side of Zipingpu when the water is reserved

The 7.9 magnitude quake on May 12, 2008 caused some damage to the dam, with the dam having a few cracks and fissures.^[3][4] Geologists now believe that the dam, and the weight of Zipingpu Reservoir, could have led to the massive earthquake.^[5][6][7]

See also

• List of power stations in China

References

1. Satellite map of Zipingpu area
2. "New Water Control Project Under Construction", Xinhua News Agency November 9, 2002
3. "Zipingpu Hydropower plant stopped by quake", China.org.cn, May 13, 2008
4. Wong, Edward; and Schwartz, John, "Chinese Soldiers Rush to Bolster Weakened Dams", The New York Times, May 15, 2008
5. Moore, Malcolm, "Chinese earthquake may have been man-made, say scientists", The Telegraph, Feb 3, 2009
6. LaFraniere, Sharon, "Possible Link Between Dam and China Quake", The New York Times, February 5, 2009
7. "Zipingpu Reservoir and the Wenchuan Earthquake" (PDF). ECEE. Retrieved August 23, 2011.