The waters of the Yangtze River surged into the basin behind the
world's largest dam project at the Three Gorges Wednesday morning
as the cofferdam was demolished with a string of 555 explosions.
The explosives took just 18 seconds to blast their way along the
kilometer-long cofferdam at 9:08 am.
As
the sound of the explosions echoed, the cofferdam that was formed
in 1997 finished its historical task. From now on, the Yangtze
River will directly flow into the base pit of the Three Gorges.
The cofferdam was just 300 meters from the Three Gorges dam. Under
the protection of the cofferdam, which lies on the main riverbed,
the second-phase of the Three Gorges Project has been under
construction since November, 1997.
According to the construction plan, three goals will be realized by
2003, including a lower water conservation gate, permanent lock
gates and the first electricity generator, all of which required
the demolition of the cofferdam.
Three Gorges Dam Safe, Reliable: Experts
Chinese experts have approved the construction quality of the
1,600-meter Three Gorges dam to date, officials with the China
Yangtze Three Gorges Project Development Company, the proprietor of
the project, said here Wednesday.
After a comprehensive examination of the world's largest dam on the
Yangtze River, the experts employed by the Three Gorges Project
Construction Committee said the dam was safe and reliable enough to
hold water.
The review was done before the cofferdam upstream of the main dam
was demolished Wednesday, allowing the river to wash directly up to
the dam.
Chinese builders have poured more than 12 million cubic meters of
cement over the past five years into the dam, currently standing
167 meters high on average.
The building of another section of the dam, about 600 meters long,
is expected to begin next year.
The Three Gorges Hydropower Plant will have an installed capacity
of 18.2 million kilowatts upon completion, making it the biggest
hydropower plant in the world.
The first generating units of the project will be put into service
in 2003.
(Xinhua News
Agency May 1, 2002)