The dam that slows the Earth’s rotation

Are there objects heavy enough to alter the Earth’s rotation? Yes, the Three Gorges Dam in China.

This dam is located in Hubei province and is home to the largest hydroelectric power plant on the planet, capable of generating 22,500 MW. The power plant exploits the water pressure of the entire basin, bringing it to the plant’s turbines. With 2309 meters wide it holds the world records for the largest dam and the most powerful hydroelectric power station, capable of satisfying 3% of the country’s enormous energy needs.

NASA scientists have calculated that the large mass of water that accumulates in the dam causes a decrease in the Earth’s rotation speed, albeit by an infinitesimal value estimated at 0.06 microseconds. The reason comes from the fact that, when the dam fills, a phenomenon called moment of inertia occurs, which influences the earth’s rotation.