August 6, 2007 (LPAC)--China's huge Three Gorges Dam, the world's biggest dam, has successfully controlled the huge flood crest coming down the Yangtze river system, Chinese officials said Aug. 1. This proves that the dam can achieve what it is designed to do: control flooding on one of the biggest, and most flood-prone, river systems in the world. Flooding has been extensive this year, one of the worst since the terrible "century floods" of the summer rainy season of 1998. This is the first test of the dam, which was completed in May 2006. Already at least 650 people have been killed by the effects of flooding all over China, but the devastation in the lower Yangtze common throughout history, was prevented.

Xinhua quoted Three Gorges engineer Yuan Jie, "The biggest flood crest on the Yangtze River this year has passed through the Three Gorges Dam, and the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze were protected. The crest was tamed in the reservoir." On July 30, engineers opened all 18 sluices to release the fast-rising water from the reservoir, and knowing this would test the dam's overall safety. All went as designed, with the 16 electricity generators continuing in full operation.

The test was so successful, even the environmentalist Washington Post had to admit that the Three Gorges Dam passed the test, and saved thousands of lives.