The Jinghong Dam (Chinese: 景洪大坝) is a gravity dam composed of roller-compacted concrete on the Lancang (Mekong) River near Jinghong in Yunnan Province, China. The main purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power production and it has an associated 1,750 MW power station.[1] Part of the power generated is sold to Thailand under an agreement with China.[2]

Jinghong Dam
Jinghong Dam is located in China
Jinghong Dam
Location of Jinghong Dam in China
Official name景洪大坝
CountryChina
LocationJinghong, Yunnan Province
Coordinates22°03′09″N 100°45′58″E / 22.05250°N 100.76611°E / 22.05250; 100.76611
StatusIn use
Construction began2003
Opening date2008
Construction cost2.3 billion yuan (US$ 1.76 billion)
Dam and spillways
Type of damGravity, roller-compacted concrete
ImpoundsLancang (Mekong) River
Height108 m (354 ft)
Length704.5 m (2,311 ft)
Reservoir
CreatesJinghong Reservoir
Total capacity249,000,000 m3 (201,868 acre⋅ft)
Surface area510 km2 (197 sq mi)
Power Station
Commission date2008-2010
Installed capacity1,750 MW

As of January 2020 it is the nearest Chinese dam upstream of the Thai border, and has helped to cause huge fluctuations in river levels, affecting people's livelihoods downstream by disrupting the river's natural cycle. It, along with the many other dams on the river, is exacerbating the effects of climate change and impacting the ecosystem, disturbing the migratory patterns of fish as well as riverbank plants and local agriculture downstream.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "New hydropower station completed in Yunnan". China Daily. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  2. ^ "Transmission Interconnection between Jinghong Hydropower Project in Yunnan Province to Thailand". Asian Development Bank. Archived from the original on 15 April 2005. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  3. ^ Bainbridge, Amy; Vimonsuk, Supattra (20 January 2020). "Chinese dams are 'exacerbating' Mekong River drought, and locals say they've never seen it this low". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 20 January 2020.