This 156m-high water level is the second phase of water storage for the record-breaking project, whose current preset mark is 139m, maintained since the reservoir began to store water in June 2003. The stored water level is to reach a peak of 175m upon the completion of work in 2009.
The Three Gorges project’s main dam is 2309m long and 185m high, and was completed on 20 May 2006, ahead of schedule. Its cofferdam was demolished on 6 June.