The long haul

In 1952, Mao Zedong visited the great rushing rivers of China\´s south and suggested that the thirsty north "borrow" some. Thus was born the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. Nearly 60 years later, construction is under way on the biggest water redirection scheme in history. When complete, the US $62 billion project will transport 44.8 million megaliters of water per year from the lush river valleys of the south to the parched industrial north-enough to flood Beijing to a height of almost 3 meters. The three-pronged project, which consists of an eastern route, a western route, and a central route, includes the construction of more than 1800 kilometers of pipelines and reinforced canals, at least 23 pumping stations, up to 7 dams, and 2 massive tunnels under the Yellow River. Some parts won\´t be fi nished until midcentury.