Certains des plus grands barrages du monde retiennent d’énormes quantités d’eau—et un potentiel de danger impressionnant. Cette vidéo s'intéresse aux barrages qui vieillissent, sont mal entretenus, ou construits dans des zones à risque, les transformant en bombes à retardement. Imaginez des villes entières inondées en quelques minutes si l'une de ces structures venait à céder. Cela s'est déjà produit, comme lors de la catastrophe du barrage de Banqiao en Chine, et les experts avertissent que cela pourrait se reproduire. Avec le changement climatique qui amène des pluies plus abondantes et des conditions météorologiques extrêmes, la pression sur ces barrages ne fait qu'augmenter. C'est un appel à la prise de conscience des risques cachés auxquels nous ne pensons pas toujours, mais auxquels nous devrions assurément faire attention ! Animation créée par Sympa.
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Nos réseaux sociaux :
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sympasympacom/
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Stock de fichiers (photos, vidéos et autres):
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https://www.eastnews.ru
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FunTranscript
00:00The concrete of this imposing structure is cracking under the pressure of thousands of tons of water.
00:04A slight seismic shake then occurs,
00:07shaking the situation.
00:10The old dam does not resist.
00:12A torrent of water spills through cracks that widen at an alarming speed,
00:16exerting a devastating force on the stone wall that collapses.
00:21In an instant, the building disappears under the assault of roaring waves,
00:25drifting with an uncontrollable force towards the village nestled in the valley.
00:30When a dam reaches the age of 50,
00:32it enters a period called alert.
00:35This term actually designates a critical point
00:38where its maintenance becomes much more complex,
00:40while the associated risks increase.
00:43A recent study carried out by the Institute of the United Nations for Water, Environment and Health
00:49revealed that the United Kingdom and Japan
00:51had the largest number of dams in this category.
00:54This is not surprising.
00:56In these two countries, the average age of dams exceeds largely a century.
01:00If you are also wondering about the reasons
01:03why so many dams reach this canonical age at the same time,
01:07the answer is quite obvious.
01:09The middle of the 20th century was marked by a frenzy of construction.
01:13Between the end of the 1950s and the 1970s,
01:16more than 1,100 dams were built each year.
01:19But, as early as 1990,
01:22this frenzied rhythm has slowed considerably,
01:25with less than 500 new dams per year.
01:27Since the 2000s, this figure has decreased again,
01:31falling below 300.
01:33The biggest problem lies in the fact that many of the dams built
01:36during this post-war boom are aging simultaneously today,
01:40while many countries face degraded infrastructures.
01:43And what happens when these works reach a critical state?
01:47In the absence of rigorous maintenance, they risk collapsing,
01:51which could cause disasters
01:53both for water supply and for public safety.
01:56This is similar to a gigantic game of aquatic jenga,
01:59where it is imperative to prevent the whole from collapsing.
02:03A tragic example of such a disaster occurred with the Bankiao Dam,
02:07built in 1952.
02:10In 1975, it collapsed under the torrential rains caused by the Nina Typhoon,
02:16causing the loss of nearly 240,000 lives.
02:19One of the main causes of this tragedy was a flawed design.
02:23The dam was not designed to withstand extreme climatic conditions.
02:27When the region was hit by unprecedented intensities,
02:31it collapsed under pressure.
02:33You are probably wondering if the one near you is at risk.
02:37If its name is on our list of the most dangerous dams in the world,
02:41it would be wise to move.
02:44The Hoover Dam is one of the highest in the United States.
02:47It rises on the Colorado River,
02:49at the border between Nevada and Arizona.
02:51With its 220 meters of height,
02:54it offers an impressive spectacle
02:56and is a formidable source of energy.
02:59The thickness of its base is equivalent to the length of two football fields
03:03and each downpour can handle a volume of water comparable to that of Niagara Falls.
03:08However, experts warn of the catastrophic consequences
03:11of a possible collapse of this gigantic building,
03:14which would put millions of lives at risk.
03:16This risk is all the more worrying
03:18as the dam is aging and is located in a seismic zone.
03:22The Almandra Dam, the highest in Spain,
03:25was built between 1963 and 1970.
03:30Its main role is to regulate the flow of the Torres River,
03:34and this work is far from trivial.
03:36A simple human error could cause considerable damage.
03:40It is therefore a serious concern for the populations living downstream.
03:44The Jinping-Yi Dam, also known as the first Jinping Waterfall,
03:49holds the title of the highest dam in the world with its 305 meters of height.
03:54Located in China, it was built to control the flow of the Yalong River.
03:58This impressive structure plays a crucial role,
04:01producing 16 to 18 billion kWh per year.
04:05To put this into perspective,
04:07an average American household consumes about 11,000 kWh per year,
04:11which means that the Jinping hydroelectric power plant
04:14can power about 1.6 million homes.
04:17The Kariba Dam is an impressive construction
04:20located on the Zambezi River,
04:22on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
04:24Although several authorities share the task of its maintenance,
04:28reports indicate that urgent repairs are necessary.
04:32Without these interventions,
04:33the dam could cause major damage in the surrounding regions.
04:37It is therefore imperative to monitor this giant.
04:40The Mosul Dam, considered one of the most dangerous in the world,
04:44has a disturbing peculiarity.
04:46It is composed of friable mud rather than concrete.
04:49This design flaw causes constant erosion,
04:52the mud being slowly carried away by the water.
04:55Teams are working tirelessly to ensure maintenance and repairs,
04:59but this site remains a major source of concern.
05:02The Diduki Dam, located in the state of Kerala, India,
05:06is a spectacular double-curved mud dam on the Periyar River.
05:10Ranked among the highest mud dams in Asia,
05:13it retains an immense amount of water.
05:16A problem on this dam would lead to tragic consequences
05:19for vast regions,
05:20risking the lives of many people.
05:23Therefore, its maintenance is essential
05:25to guarantee the safety of all.
05:27The Three Gorges Dam in China
05:29is one of the most imposing works in the world
05:32and houses the largest hydroelectric power plant on the planet,
05:35completed in 2012.
05:37It rises to nearly 185 meters and expands to 2,335 meters,
05:42more than half the width of Manhattan at its narrowest point.
05:46This titanic construction
05:48has even had notable repercussions on the earth itself,
05:51notably influencing the rotation of our planet, according to experts.
05:55As impressive as it is,
05:57this dam represents considerable risks
05:59for the environment and safety.
06:01It has been built in a region subject to earthquakes,
06:05a worrying factor.
06:06In addition, the accumulation of sediment in its reservoir
06:09could affect its stability.
06:11During its construction,
06:12more than a million people had to be relocated
06:15and the ecosystem was deeply impacted.
06:18Recognized for its aesthetic appeal,
06:20the Monticello Dam in the United States
06:23attracts thousands of curious people every year.
06:25One of the reasons why people are so eager to go there
06:29is its fascinating Glory Hole.
06:31Although it may seem picturesque at first glance,
06:34this Glory Hole actually represents an open door to danger.
06:39It is essentially a huge concrete funnel
06:42that stands at the top of the dam.
06:44When the water level in the lake exceeds 134 meters
06:47above sea level,
06:49thus approaching the overflow,
06:51the water begins to evacuate through this funnel
06:54like a bathtub that empties.
06:56This phenomenon creates a fascinating whirlwind,
06:59but it is better to avoid approaching it
07:01so as not to run the risk.
07:03Located on the Columbia River in the state of Washington,
07:06the Grand Coulee Dam has been supplying electricity
07:09to the northwest of the Pacific since 1942.
07:12It contains nearly 9.1 million cubic meters of concrete,
07:16which would allow to build a sidewalk
07:181.20 meters wide and 10 centimeters thick,
07:21by going around the equator twice.
07:24However, this impressive structure also presents challenges.
07:28Over 80 years old,
07:30it requires special attention for its maintenance.
07:33In addition, its location in a seismic zone
07:36raises questions about its stability.
07:38The Kurobe Dam, in Japan,
07:40is a wonder of 186 meters high,
07:43completed in 1963.
07:45However, with the years,
07:47it shows signs of aging
07:49and frequent earthquakes in Japan
07:51increase the risks associated with this dam.
07:53In addition,
07:55the region is often affected by torrential rains,
07:58able to exert additional pressure on the entire structure.
08:02The Tarbela Dam, located on the Indus River,
08:05is the largest compacted earth dam in the world.
08:08Completed in 1976,
08:10it faces challenges such as sediment accumulation,
08:14which reduces its storage capacity.
08:16In addition, climate change has disrupted water flow,
08:21thus endangering the stability of this monumental structure.
08:25The main utility of the dams lies in irrigation,
08:28allowing water to flow towards crops.
08:31Indeed, about 40% of the food consumed worldwide
08:35depends on these hydraulic infrastructures.
08:37Then, hydroelectricity is one of their main functions.
08:41The dams act like gigantic batteries,
08:44transforming the flow of water into energy.
08:46They also contribute to water supply,
08:49flood control,
08:51and offer recreational activities
08:52such as sailing and fishing.
08:55Given the aging of the dams,
08:57measures must be taken to protect living populations,
09:00including those living nearby.
09:02The United States is an example of this
09:04by initiating the dismantling of dams,
09:06which have already removed more than 1,200 structures
09:09over the past 30 years.
09:11Old dams are not only dangerous,
09:14but also expensive to maintain,
09:16making their dismantling often more judicious.