China has announced that it intends to resettle up to 4 million people as part of its construction of the Three Gorges Dam. This resettlement, to take place over the next 10 to 15 years, will be one of the largest in modern history and, according to the Chinese authorities, its purpose will be to protect the 'vunerable' ecology of the 400 mile reservoir system. The construction of this, the worlds largest hydroelectric river dam, has already seen a large scale resettlement of over 1 milllion people moved from the rising waters and has been criticised for its environmental and cultural impact.