Yangtze River Cruise: Wū Gorge

Wednesday, 17th April, 2013.

 

Wū Gorge, the Gorge of Witches, is the central gorge of the Three Gorges, and 40 km long..

Xīlíng Gorge, 80 km long, is downstream (east) from the dam, while Wū Gorge and Qútáng Gorge, the shortest gorge at 8km long, lie upstream (west) from the dam. 

The high water mark, which shows the level of the water in winter, can be clearly seen.

 

The level of the Yangtze upstream from the dam is strictly monitored.  During the dry winter, the water is kept to the high water mark you can see here.  During the rainy summer the water level is lowered.  As we were here in spring, the level is dropping. 

 

Sunrise over the Wū Gorge:

 

 

 

 

The cliffs of Wū Gorge are topped by twelve sharp jagged peaks, the subject of many myths and legends, with such names as Goddess Peak and Peak of the Immortals:

 

 

 

 

Eventually, in typical Chinese style, we glimpsed a bridge, gradually appearing around a bend in the river.

One of the unfortunate side effects of the Three Gorges Dam has been to destabilise the area and cause landslides.  I don’t know for certain if this is the site of one such landslide, but we did see quite a few of these bare patches along the way.  

 

This pretty red bridge at Wūshān is the largest in the world in its category.

 

The original town of Wūshān was abandoned and submerged with the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, and the new town constructed on the hills above.