China Releases 3 Trillion Liters of Water at an Altitude of 8,000 Feet!

Water Dam

 China Releases 3 Trillion Liters of Water at an Altitude of 8,000 Feet!

China continues to amaze the world with groundbreaking projects across various sectors, from automotive to energy. But this time, what’s happening in the high western mountains of China pushes the boundaries of innovation—and borders on the realm of natural wonders.

China has begun storing water in the Shuangjiangkou Hydropower Project, located in Sichuan Province. This is the largest project of its kind in the world, designed to store over 3 trillion liters of water at an altitude of 8,000 feet (about 2,438 meters).

Launched in 2015, the project officially began water storage on May 1, 2025, in preparation to generate clean electricity estimated at 7 billion kilowatt-hours annually, according to Eco Portal, as reported by Al Arabiya Business.

The dam is built on the Dadu River, a major tributary of the Sichuan Basin. Standing at 315 meters tall, it now holds the title of the tallest dam in the world. It was financed with 36 billion yuan (around $4.9 billion USD) and constructed by the state-owned company Power China. After the first phase of storage, the water level has reached 2,344 meters above sea level, which is 80 meters higher than the river’s original level.

However, behind this engineering marvel lies a looming scientific question:

Can such a massive project proceed without geological consequences?

Experts warn of possible earthquakes triggered by the immense water pressure, along with changes in river flow and potential impacts on the Earth’s crust. Nevertheless, engineers argue that the project's environmental benefits, including reducing coal dependency and cutting carbon emissions by about 7.18 million tons annually, outweigh the potential risks.