The five-stage ship locks of the Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest hydropower project, was closed Monday as it braced for the biggest flood crest this summer. [Xinhua]

The five-stage ship locks of the Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest hydropower project, was closed on Monday as it braced for the biggest flood crest this summer.

Water entered the Three Gorges Reservoir at 41,000 cubic meters per second as heavy rain has been lashing the upper reaches of the Yangtze River.

China Three Gorges Project Corp. gave no timetable when the ship locks will be reopened. But it noted that similar flood crests will enter the reservoir in the coming three days.

The water level in the reservoir has been lowered by about 28 meters to 145 meters to ensure the dam's safety.

Severe rainstorms hit most parts of the southwestern province of Sichuan and its neighboring Chongqing municipality on Sunday and Monday. Precipitation in some regions was as much as 150 millimeters.

The five-stage ship locks of the Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest hydropower project, was closed Monday as it braced for the biggest flood crest this summer. [Xinhua]

(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2009)