Northern Quebec Hydroelectricity - Manicouagan V - Powerplant #2

---

Click on Photos for larger view.

In the background, the angled concrete structures were part of the mobile crane system used to poor the concrete into the forms when the dam was under construction. There was 2,255,000 cubic meters (2,949,429 cubic yards) of concrete used to make the dam. That is enough concrete to build a sidewalk to connect the North and South Poles. The dam weighs 5,440,000 metric tons (6,000,000 tons).

The top photo is taken from the top of the dam; the lower photo is taken from the road below the dam.

Powerhouse Two is located 100 M (330 ft) underground and has four generating units capable of producing 1,064 MW of hydroelectric power. This plant only operates if the demand exceeds the capacity of Powerhouse One. It takes six to eight minutes from initial start of a generator until the power is available for transmission. After flowing through the power plant, the water goes through the trailrace system and reenters the riverbed as shown to the left. The bright blue door opens to a tunnel that is wide enough for two semi-trailers to move a rotor that is 9m (30 ft) across.

We speak almost no French; the other guests on the tour of the plant spoke almost no English; and the English-speaking tour guide was not working on the day we toured. This happy couple looked quite pleased to have their photo taken for our web page; however, we doubt if we communicated accurately why we wanted their photo.