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File photo taken in December 2004 shows the aerophoto of the Three Gorges Dam in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province. The axis of the dam is 2,309 meters, the longest in the world.(Xinhua Photo)

China completed construction of the world's largest dam Saturday (May 20) in Three Gorges area, central China's Hubei Province, signifying accomplishment of the major structure of the mammoth Three Gorges water control project aiming to tame the flood-prone Yangtze River, the nation's longest.

At 2:00 on Saturday afternoon, the final concrete was poured for the 2,309-meter-long, 185-meter-high main wall of the Three Gorges Dam, which by then began to have capacity of holding water.

The concrete placement of the Dam's main section was completed 10 months ahead of the schedule, which will enable the Dam to start its role in power generation, flood control and shipping improvement in 2008, one year ahead the designated time.

Photo taken in July 2005 shows the flood discharging dam of the Three Gorges Dam in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province. The flood discharging dam has a length of 483 meters, the largest in the world. (Xinhua Photo)

Photo taken in July 2005 shows the flood discharging gate of the Three Gorges Dam in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province. The largest capacity of the flood discharging gate stands at 102,500 cubic meters per second, the largest in the world. (Xinhua Photo)

Undated file photo shows marine fenders of the Three Gorges Dam in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province. The marine fenders are the largest of an inland river ship lock in the world. (Xinhua Photo)

Editor: Yan