LengthLength 3,964 miles3,964 miles

SourceSource Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, ChinaQinghai-Tibet Plateau, China

MouthMouth East China Sea, near ShanghaiEast China Sea, near Shanghai

Flows throughFlows through Congqing, Yichang, Wuhan, Congqing, Yichang, Wuhan, Nanjing and ShanghaiNanjing and Shanghai

The name came fromThe name came from Chinese Chinese Chang-jiangChang-jiang, , meaning "Long River" meaning "Long River"

The river has served as a means of transportation for The river has served as a means of transportation for 2,000 years.2,000 years.

Highest transportation takes place in Yangtze river in Highest transportation takes place in Yangtze river in China. China.

The river is also used for sight-seeing tours and for The river is also used for sight-seeing tours and for private travel.private travel.

AgricultureAgriculture: Rice in the low east, and wheat in the north : Rice in the low east, and wheat in the north part of the regionpart of the region

EconomicEconomic: The Yangtze River is of major economic : The Yangtze River is of major economic importance importance

The benefits of three gorges damThe benefits of three gorges dam

Flood Control:Flood Control: It has the flood control It has the flood control capacity of 22.15 billion cubic meters capacity of 22.15 billion cubic meters

The Three Gorges Dam Project will protect The Three Gorges Dam Project will protect 23,000,000 mu of farmland (1,533,333 23,000,000 mu of farmland (1,533,333 hectares)hectares)

It will protect the lives of 15 million people It will protect the lives of 15 million people in the down river area of the Changjiang in the down river area of the Changjiang

Power generationPower generation:: It will generate 84.6 It will generate 84.6 billion kilowatt hours of hydroelectricity.billion kilowatt hours of hydroelectricity.

It will also play an important role in the It will also play an important role in the development of the economy.development of the economy.

Reduction of environmental pollution.Reduction of environmental pollution. TourismTourism: It: It will promote further tourism will promote further tourism It has become the "hottest" tourist and It has become the "hottest" tourist and

press attraction in recent years. press attraction in recent years.

Challenges posses by Yangtze Challenges posses by Yangtze

Lots of destruction of human settlements takes Lots of destruction of human settlements takes placeplace

140 small villages, 1,600 factories and well over 140 small villages, 1,600 factories and well over 80,000 acres of grow able land will be destroyed 80,000 acres of grow able land will be destroyed by the new reservoir.by the new reservoir.

There are always environmental problems There are always environmental problems associated with the construction of dams.associated with the construction of dams.

Worldwide, environmentalists predict that the Worldwide, environmentalists predict that the deeper, colder water could result in the extinction deeper, colder water could result in the extinction of animals.of animals.

Such as Chinese Alligator and the River Dolphin Such as Chinese Alligator and the River Dolphin