René-Lévesque generating station

Dam in Quebec, Canada

49°44′23″N 68°35′32″W / 49.73972°N 68.59222°W / 49.73972; -68.59222StatusOperationalConstruction began1970Opening date1976Owner(s)Hydro-QuébecDam and spillwaysImpoundsManicouagan RiverLength773 m (395 + 378)Width (base)732 mReservoirCreatesReservoir Manic-3Total capacity236 km²TypeRun-of-the-riverHydraulic head94.19 mTurbines6 × Francis turbineInstalled capacity1,326 MW

The René-Lévesque generating station, formerly known as Manic-3, is a hydroelectric power station located 75 km from Baie-Comeau built on Manicouagan River, between 1970 and 1976. On June 22, 2010, the dam and the generating station were renamed to honour former Quebec premier René Lévesque, who was minister of Hydraulic resources during the construction of the complex and became premier of Quebec in 1976.^[1]

Description

René-Lévesque is a two dam complex. The east dam is a gravity "hollow type" made of concrete with a spillway, the dam is 71 m high and 378 m long. The west dam is a sand and rockfill type with clay inside, long of 395 m and 107 m with base width of 732 m. The Manic-3 reservoir is 70 km long and 202 m higher than sea level. The complex has six Francis turbines installed in an underground power station for a total capacity of 1,244 megawatts (later upgraded to 1326 MW).^{[citation needed]}

References

^ Presse canadienne (June 22, 2010). "Deux centrales porteront les noms de Jean Lesage et René Lévesque". La Presse (in French). Montréal. Retrieved June 22, 2010.