River Modifications
The Wu River has been extensively developed for hydroelectricity generation. As of 2010, dams along the river had a combined capacity of 8,500 megawatts (MW). Much of this development is extremely recent, as power generation in 2010 was over four times of that in 2005. Most dams on the river were constructed and owned by the Wujiang Hydropower Corporation. The largest dam, the 232-metre (761 ft) Goupitan Dam, was completed in 2011. Aside from producing power, dams on the Wu River also provide flood control and hydraulic head for irrigation operations.
The lower reaches of the river are heavily polluted because of poor sewage systems and dumping of agricultural waste – so much that it is not even considered suitable for irrigation and industrial purposes.
About 40 kilometres (25 mi) of the river's lower course forms an arm of the Wu Gorge (Big Gorge or Second Gorge) of the Three Gorges, now submerged in up to 30 metres (100 ft) of water from Three Gorges Reservoir. In late 2008, geological instabilities caused landslides with volumes of 20,000 and 50,000 cubic metres (26,000 and 65,000 cu yd). It is speculated that the former slide is part of a larger unstable slope with as much as 100,000 cubic metres (130,000 cu yd). The latter slide caused a wave that swamped boats up to 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) away.
Read more about this topic: Wu River (Yangtze River Tributary)
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