Three Gorges number of cultural relics, including hanging coffins and stone inscriptions that cannot be protected, were covered by the reservoir. Three Gorges The Three Gorges () are three adjacent gorges along the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, in the hinterland of the People's Republic of China. With a subtropical monsoon climate, they are known for their scenery. The "Three Gorges Scenic Area" is classified as a AAAAA scenic area (the highest level) by the China National Tourism Administration. The Three Gorges—comprising the Qutang, Wu, and Xiling gorges—span 193 miles, beginning at Baidi City of Chongqing Municipality, in the west and
Three Gorges the river along vertical fractures, forming precipitous cliffs. When the river flows through areas of softer sandstone and shale, which have less resistance to erosion, the erosive effect is increased, carving wide valleys. There are different theories on how the Three Gorges were formed, but geographers and geologists have generally reached a consensus, believing mountain folding in the east of Sichuan Province and the west of Hubei Province, including the Wu Mountains (), were the outcome of the Yanshanian movement () around 70 million years ago. The gorges run from southwest to northeast, then turn, and from west to east,