The Top Hydroelectric Dams In The World

With all the water in the world, one would think that harnessing its power would be a given. However, it was only recently that the great big hydroelectric dams were built. But what structures they turned out to be. Let’s take a look at the largest hydroelectric dams ever built.

Image source: Wikipedia.com

Three Gorges Dam

This is the king of dams. The Three Gorges Dam of China is one of the most impressive feats of engineering in the history of mankind. It is both the largest hydroelectric dam on the planet, as well as the largest power plant ever created by human hands. It can give off more than 22,000 megawatts, taken from the mighty Yangtze River. The Three Gorges Dam set a record in 2014 by generating 98.8 TWh.

Image source: Wikipedia.com

Itaipu Dam

On the other side of the world, located along the border of Brazil and Paraguay lies the Itaipu Dam. This is the second-largest dam on Earth. Constructed along the Parana River by the governments of both Brazil and Paraguay, this structure is so massive that only the Three Gorges Dam is bigger. The power generated by Itaipu Dam gives Paraguay 75 percent of its electricity, and Brazil, 17 percent. Those are huge numbers by all accounts.

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Novel Researches Emphasize The Need To Revisit Existing Solution Models For Climate Change

A couple of newfangled studies highlight glitches in the shared solution models hatched by scientists to address climate change, stressing the worse adverse impact these may bear on planet Earth’s inhabitants.

Image source: NASA.gov

In its published research conducted by an international panel of experts, United Kingdom-based University of Exeter claims that the cultural dimensions of climate change have not been considerably factored in by myriad scientists in the formulation of prototypes to address this global environmental threat. The study avers that community traditions, mores and values are key elements through which the climate change concept can effectively seep into peoples’ psyche and motivate them into action and pro-active responses. Common practices for survival enjoin members of the society to adhere with one another, as well as with their habitats and sources of living. Thus, likewise, they most likely act in unison to surmount any threat or imminent peril to anything that matters most to them. Their control over their emotional well-being is vital and determines where they prefer to settle, thus motivates them to make their futures more sustainable. These psychological variables, the researchers claim, have been overlooked by scientists in the formulated plans to adapt physical spaces to the changing environment.

Image source: NASA.gov

A related analytical inquiry by an international team of distinguished scientists, including five members of the National Academies, demonstrates that crucial features are lacking in the current models used as bases for environmental, climate, and economic policies. The paper, which appeared in the National Science Review, contends that contemporary calculations of the impact of climate change overlook socio-economic and demographic variables such as increase in resource use, alterations in land use patterns, population control, inequality, economic growth and migration. The article points out the importance of planet-human system interaction, as this spells out the dominance of human beings in effecting changes in most of the Earth's natural constitution, which, in turn bounce back to influence and alter peoples’ development.

Tags: climate change

A Business Development Manager from San Diego, Janique Goff is a dedicated advocate of the environment. She continues to promote the conservation of natural resources and eco-friendly alternatives for consumer products. For more eco-news, visit this Twitter page.