A Dam Important Issue: The Impact of Dams on our Planet
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Human-made dams are a feat of wonder. They generate renewable electricity that lights up entire cities and irrigates vast farmlands while also playing an important role in flood control and economic development. As one of the oldest technologies we have, dams transform our natural resources into energy, recreation and employment sources that benefit entire communities.
Yet as we’ve seen time and time again, no technology is inherently neutral or solely good. Dams result in displacement of people, loss of habitat for wildlife, changes in the course of rivers and can cause flooding. These structures — whether it’s the famed Hoover Dam, gravity-defying Three Gorges or the contentious Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam — have made a tangible impact in our communities and economies as well as a visible impact on our Earth. Take a look at how these dams look from space and learn about their impacts on the ground!