- Jean-Lesage generating station
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Jean-Lesage generating station 
Location Quebec, Canada Construction began 1961 Opening date 1967 Dam and spillways Height 94 m Length 692 m Impounds Manicouagan River Reservoir Creates Reservoir Manic-2 Capacity 4 000 Mm³ Surface area 124 km² Power station Owner(s) HydroQuebec Turbines 8 x Francis-type Installed capacity 1,145 MW 
The Jean-Lesage generating station, formerly known as Manic-2, is a dam located 22 km from Baie-Comeau built on Manicouagan River in Quebec, Canada. It was constructed between 1961 and 1967. On June 22, 2010, the dam and the generating station were renamed to honor former Quebec premier Jean Lesage, who was premier of Quebec during the construction of the complex.[1]
Contents
Description
Jean-Lesage is a gravity dam "hollow type" with a spillway made of concrete. The reservoir starts at the base of Manic-3. The dam is considered run-of-the-river and is fitted with eight Francis turbines, with a total capacity of 1145 megawatts.[2][3]
Construction and commissioning
Construction started on October 24 1961. From June 2 to December 8 1962, diversion tunnels were driven through the mountain to divert the river's flow around the construction site. The cofferdam that forced the to water use the diversion tunnels was completed on July 30 1963, construction of the dam started the day after.[citation needed] By autumn 1965, the dam and powerhouse were sufficiently complete to put the first group of five turbines into service, the others were put in service at the end of construction. Commissioning was completed in 1967.
Tourism
It is possible to visit the complex during summer between the end of June and start of September. The 90 minutes visit consists of a guided tour by Hydro-Quebec which lets the visitor enter cavities of the dam and see a turbine in action within the powerhouse.
See also
References
- ^ Presse canadienne (2010-06-22). "Deux centrales porteront les noms de Jean Lesage et René Lévesque" (in French). La Presse (Montréal). http://www.cyberpresse.ca/actualites/quebec-canada/national/201006/22/01-4292397-deux-centrales-porteront-les-noms-de-jean-lesage-et-rene-levesque.php. Retrieved 2010-06-22.
- ^ http://www.hydroquebec.com/publications/en/financial_profile/2007_2008/pdf/profile_2007-2008.pdf
- ^ "Hydroelectric Generating Stations". HydroQuebec. 12/31/2009. http://www.hydroquebec.com/generation/centrale-hydroelectrique.html. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
External links
- (French) Pictures and information from Hydro-Quebec
- (French) Information on guided tour
- (French) Google Maps view
Categories:- Manicouagan-Outardes hydroelectric project
- Dams in Quebec
- Run-of-the-river power stations
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