The Three Gorges Dam (三峡大坝, Sānxiá Dàbà) is a Chinese hydroelectric river dam that spans the Yangtze River in Yichang, Hubei Province. The total electric generating capacity of the dam will reach 22,500 megawatts, at which point it will be the largest hydro-electric power station in the world by capacity. This is the biggest project that has been undertaken in China since the Great Wall and the Grand Canal. The dam is expected to become fully operational in about 2011.

As with many dams, there is a debate over costs and benefits. Although there are potential economic and environmental benefits such as flood control, drought relief, hydroelectric power, navigation safety and pollutant emission reduction, there are also concerns about the relocation of over 1.5 million people who have or will be displaced by the rising waters, siltation that could limit the dam's useful life, loss of numerous valuable archaeological and cultural sites and significant negative effects on animal life.