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Great Wall Of China
Started in 206 BC and built over a period of 2,000 years. Built as a step on the first emperor of China's quest to achieve immortality. The wall defended from invading tribes that the emperor might have previously upset. The total length is still unknown. The wall is a UNESCO certified world heritage cite because it is one of the most extensive structures ever built. The wall never effectively defended China from invasions but acted more as a psychological barrier. -
Song Times
Around 1000 CE. Great advancements in rice were made during this period of time. Irrigation advanced so that rice could be grown easily over large areas. New strains of rice that were less susceptible to drout were developed. New straisn of rice that could grow more quickly and could riped early were developed. China's warm climate with its heavy rainfall supported and still suppports rice farming very well. -
Coal Mining
Coal mining began in China around 1900. There are three main types of strip mining including open pit, area type, and contour mining. China is the largest coal producer in the world, it produces about 9% of all of the world's coal because coal is a widely available resource in China. There are many mining sites in China which have altered the environment due to human influence. This is having somewhat of a negative affect because China has a large smog issue due to coal pollution. -
Terraced Rice Farming
1000 AD. Rice farms have been carved in hilly valleys and mountaintops around China. Some of these farms date bavl thousands of years. Many are remote and hard to travel to but hold impressive sites if visited. Advancements in rice during the Song times have made rice a crop that can be grown with ease but rice farming is labor intensive. Though, it has been shown that it is worth growing this vital crop. -
Three Gorges Dam
Started in 1994, completed in 2009. The structure is the world's largest hydroelectric dam that has ever been built, it is along the Yangtze river. It is 2.1 kilometers long and 186 meters high. its reservoir extends upstream nearly 400 miles. This dam is 5 times the size of the Hoover dam, for size comparison. It has 32 generators and reduces the use of coal in the area. This dam has helped to decrease the large amount of air pollution in the area.
