The fish in the Three Gorges Reservoir are not only diverse in species, but also thrive due to the complex terrain along the Yangtze River, which provides abundant nutrients and food sources for their growth. The fish in the reservoir are often quite large, with some reaching astonishing sizes.
Three Gorges refers to the general area of the Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge, and Xiling Gorge along the Yangtze River, stretching 193 kilometers westward from Baidicheng in Fengjie County, Chongqing to Nanjin Pass in Yichang, Hubei Province, China. This is a site of breathtaking natural beauty in the country.
Subsequently, for development and flood control reasons, the Three Gorges Project began construction in 1994 and was completed in 2006. Over those 12 years, the Three Gorges area has fundamentally changed from its original appearance, and as a result, it has become the largest hydraulic engineering project in the world, which remains unmatched to this day.
The Three Gorges Dam is currently the largest hydraulic engineering project in the world. (Photo: ch1.com.cn).
The Significance of the Three Gorges Reservoir
According to Sohu News (China), the Three Gorges area has increasingly gained value, from its original majestic beauty to its practical functions for waterway transportation, aquaculture, water storage, electricity generation, and flood and drought control…
The Three Gorges Reservoir is an artificial lake formed by the Three Gorges Project, covering a total area of nearly 1,100 km² and capable of holding nearly 40 billion cubic meters of water. Due to its rich water resources, the reservoir performs multiple functions such as water storage and flood control, aquaculture, and hydropower generation.
Besides its well-known hydropower generation capabilities, the water storage and flood control functions of the Three Gorges Reservoir are quite remarkable. The height of the Three Gorges Dam is 185 meters, while the normal water storage height of the reservoir is 156 meters, with a maximum water storage height of 175 meters. The maximum water storage capacity for flood control is even greater, reaching an astonishing 22.1 billion cubic meters.
It can be said that the water storage and flood control functions of the Three Gorges Reservoir have ensured the safety of life and property for over 840,000 residents in 2 cities and 11 districts surrounding the reservoir.
A “Paradise for Fish”
According to Sohu News, there have been many rumors about monsters in the Three Gorges Reservoir, which may attract people’s attention, but in reality, most of these monster tales have been proven false. The large fish have been exaggerated into giant monsters to draw interest.
Since the history of the Three Gorges Reservoir is relatively short, prehistoric creatures cannot exist here, nor are there connections to mysterious sea areas. Furthermore, due to the reservoir’s functions of hydropower generation, flood control, and water storage, any mythical creatures would have likely been detected.
Releasing a Chinese sturgeon caught in the Yangtze River basin in August 2000. (Photo: ch1.com.cn).
The Yangtze River is the third longest river in the world, and its drainage basin encompasses the entire southern region of China. It can be said that the Yangtze River sustains half of China’s population. Due to its geographical location in the warm and humid southern region and its passage through plateaus, mountains, hills, plains, and various terrains, the Yangtze River is rich in aquatic animal resources.
Sohu News notes that the Three Gorges Reservoir has been impounded for nearly 20 years, earning it the title of “paradise for fish.” In fact, aside from famous rare species like the Yangtze River dolphin, Yangtze white sturgeon, Chinese sturgeon, and giant salamander, it is also home to 424 species of fish, including 183 endemic species.
Moreover, the fish in the Three Gorges Reservoir not only exhibit a rich diversity of species, but due to the complex terrain along the Yangtze River, the water is rich in nutrients and abundant food sources that promote fish growth. The fish in the reservoir are often quite large, with some reaching astonishing sizes.
For example, the Yangtze white sturgeon, declared extinct on December 23, 2019, typically grows to lengths of 2-3 meters, with the longest known individuals reaching up to 7.5 meters and weighing over 600 kg, making them monstrous compared to human size.
The Chinese sturgeon is also an extremely endangered species, slightly smaller than the Yangtze white sturgeon, but can still reach lengths of 5 meters and weigh 500 kg. Unfortunately, due to the construction of the Three Gorges Project, particularly the Gezhouba Dam, these two critically endangered species native to the Yangtze River have faced significant barriers to migration and reproduction, leading to their current extinction status.
However, aside from the two well-known species, many lesser-known fish species can also grow to giant sizes in the reservoir. There have been reports of a 212 kg sturgeon and a 100 kg Chinese carp caught in the area.
