World's Amazing Flood, 40,000 Cubic Meters per second - China...

China's Three Gorges reservoir faces test as water level breaks records



Flood waters are sluiced with the water outflux monitored at 40,000 cubic meters per second at Three Gorges Dam in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province, July 20, 2010. China's Three Gorges Dam project on the Yangtze River stood its biggest flood-control test at 8 a.m. Tuesday since completion, as the flow on the river's upper reaches topped 70,000 cubic meters a second. All ferry services were halted at the Three Gorges Dam on Monday, and would be resumed after the influx decreased to 45,000 cubic meters per second.





BEIJING/YICHANG, July 23 -- A continuous deluge along the swollen Yangtze River has pushed the water level of China's Three Gorges reservoir to its peak this year on Friday and it may rise further, testing the country's mega water control system built to tame the worst floods.
The water level rose to 158.86 meters at 10 a.m. Friday, about 13.86 meters above the reservoir's water-releasing level, said engineers of the reservoir, located in Yichang City, central Hubei Province.



As of 2 p.m. Friday, the water level dropped to 158.83 meters and has remained largely stable since. The maximum capacity of the multibillion dollar reservoir is 175 meters. On Tuesday flood waters gushed into the reservoir 70,000 cubic meters per second -- the greatest velocity since it was built. The flow reduced to 34,000 cubic meters per second at 2 p.m. Friday.

The reservoir continued to release water at a speed of 40,000 cubic meters per second.