PUBLIC MARKS with tags chine & earthquake

Meanwhile, concern is growing over a number of new lakes formed by the force of the earthquake. Thirty-four lakes were created in the province when landslides blocked rivers, Xinhua news agency said. Eight held more than 3 million cubic metres of water and one lake, less than 3km (two miles) from Beichuan town, had doubled in size in four days. Officials are monitoring the lakes and have sent experts to assess them, the agency said. Forecasters predict heavy rain in the region next week, which could further raise the water levels in the lakes.

The dam is built to withstand earthquakes up to 7.0 on the richter scale, and the largest recent earthquakes have been below 6.0. However, filling the reservoir behind the dam creates seismic pressure which triggers earthquakes. In fact, earthquakes between 6.0 and 6.5 are expected once the reservoir is filled in 2009. One of the dams designed to hold back sedimentation farther up is subject to even worse seismic problems. “The Jinsha has bad geological conditions, and there is a more severe seismic area upriver from Xiangjiaba,” said a Chinese geologist in Sichuan. He added that near this site, dam projects “should not be encouraged.”

Three Gorges Dam "Not Affected" by Earthquake: Official 2008-05-12 17:17:23 Xinhua The Three Gorges Dam was not affected by Monday's major earthquake in Sichuan Province, which measured 7.8 on the Richter scale, an official said. "There were no signs that the earthquake has affected the dam, and everything was going as usual," said Hu Xing'e, an executive with the China Three Gorges Project Corporation.