Water from China's Yangtze River started to fill the Three Gorges Dam reservoir yesterday, despite environmental group criticism  (Chris Gill, London Guardian, June 2) and continuing concern about cracks in the structure (Agence France-Presse/Yahoo! News, June 1).

According to the London Guardian, 19 of the 22 gates of the dam, located in Yichang, in the central province of Hubei, were closed. The water level is expected to reach 135 meters by June 15 and it will start to generate power this fall. By 2009, when the dam will be completed, specialists predict that the water level will reach 175 meters and it will be able to generate enough energy to illuminate half of China.

According to officials, 700,000 people have been relocated for the dam (Gill, London Guardian), and nearly half a million local farmers and villagers will be moved before 2009 (AFP, June 1). Critics claim the reservoir will bring ecological disaster because the water will cover historic towns and Chinese relics dating back thousands of years (Gill, London Guardian).

Engineers, however, are concerned, however, about the cracks on the concrete face of the gates, which were repaired but appeared again. The last phase of the reservoir's construction is about to begin with the installation of generators. The $25 billion project is to be the world's largest hydroelectric dam (AFP, June 1).