Image of the Day

For my image of the day, I found a very interesting article from the New York Times on one of the reasons on how China became a superpower. The article explains how China controls the energy consumption of many of the countries around it, and Cambodia is one of those countries. This image shows the Kamchay dam in Cambodia. The deep blue water is in stark contrast with the eroded landscape below it. The dam seems to be located in a non-urban setting, with a landscape consisting of sparse forest and grassy area surrounding it. The river does not seem to be flowing much past the dam, which could effect the ecosystem of the area that once relied on the river. This image is important because it symbolizes the reliance countries like Cambodia have on China. According to the article, China has paid for the construction of 7 dams in Cambodia alone that generate over half of the countries electricity. This leaves Cambodia indebted to China, without the consistent running of the dams by their large neighbor to the north, their country could come to a screeching halt.