Work on the 1150-kilometer eastern route kicked off in 2003. Water will be lifted by pumps 65 meters above the Yangtze, the third largest river in the world, to an ancient Grand Canal, segments of which have operated continuously since the 5th century B.C.E. The canal bed, now being widened and deepened, will dive under the Yellow River via a tunnel before reaching its terminus in Tianjin. A branch will conduct water to major cities in eastern Shandong Province. Engineers intend to turn on the taps next year, with plans eventually to divert 14.8 billion cubic meters along this route from the Yangtze, an amount that represents less than 2% of the river’s flow.