| Wednesday, October 17, 2007 |
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For decades, Grand Coulee was the biggest hydropower producer in the world.
Then it was second. Then it was third.
Now, America's most productive dam is fourth worldwide and not by a little bit.
China plans to complete its Three Gorges Dam in 2009, despite an admission in September from Chinese scientists that critics throughout the world are right: The dam is already causing environmental problems including massive, life-taking slides and could create an environmental catastrophe.
Environmental and cultural concerns aside, Three Gorges is the world's largest power-producing dam, with nearly three times the capacity of Grand Coulee. Although construction isn't done, the Chinese dam is already generating electricity.
Here's how the top four stack up.
