The Lower Mekong Dams.docx

The Lower Mekong Dams – A trans-boundary water crisis

1. Describe the Mekong river journey (where is the source, which countries does it pass through and where is its mouth?)

2. How many people are estimated to rely on the Mekong, and what for specifically?

3. What plans are in place for the Mekong?

4. What has China already done and why is this controversial?

5. What has happened as a result of China building these dams?

6. Mekong fisheries provide a large quantity of protein to the people living close to the Mekong – how else does the Mekong provide food?

7. What environmental impacts are the proposed dams likely to have?

8. What social and economic impacts are the proposed dams likely to have?

9. How have governments justified the dams?

10. What benefits are these dams hoping to bring to the citizens?

11. Are these and any other benefits likely to materialise to the people of Loas? Explain your answer.

12. From your wider geographical knowledge can you indicate what other tensions may arise from having to share this river?

13. What synoptic links can you make to other topics you have studied I geography?