Information AboutChurchill Falls |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT CHURCHILL FALLS | |
| hydroelectric power plants in canada | |
| waterfalls of newfoundland and labrador | |
| labrador | |
| SHOPPER'S DELIGHT | |
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Churchill Falls are waterfalls, 245 ft (75 m) high, on the Churchill River in Labrador , Canada . Since 1970, the waters of the Churchill River have been diverted into the nearby Churchill Falls hydroelectric power station. Water flows down the falls less than once a decade, during spring thaw or periods of exceptional rains. Churchill Falls were first explored in 1839 by John McLean , a trader of the Hudson's Bay Company . MacLean named the river the Hamilton River, after Newfoundland Governor, Sir Charles Hamilton . The falls were known as Grand Falls until 1965 when both names were changed to the Churchill River and Churchill Falls to honour the former British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill . The Churchill Falls power station has the second largest Hydroelectric -generating capacity in North America (5,248 MW installed, expandable to about 6,300 MW) and is also the second largest Underground Power Station in the world, after the Robert-Bourassa Generating Station in northern Quebec . Four miles (6 km) above the falls, the Churchill River narrowed to 200 ft (60 m) and negotiated a series of rapids before dropping into MacLean Canyon, from which sheer cliffs rise several hundred feet on either side. The river flowed 12 miles (19 km) through the canyon over a series of rapids. The total drop from the rapids above the main falls to the end of MacLean Canyon is 1,038 ft (316 m). HYDROELECTIC POWER PROJECT In 1894, Albert Peter Low of the Geological Survey Of Canada reached the Grand Falls during his study of the large number of iron-ore deposits in western Labrador and northeastern Quebec. In 1915 , Wilfred Thibaudeau surveyed the Labrador Plateau and engineered a channel scheme which could be used to divert the water from the river before it arrived at the falls. The scheme would use the natural capacity of the basin, thereby eliminating the need for the construction of massive Dam s. In 1947 , Commander G.H. Desbarats, under the direction of the Newfoundland Government, completed a preliminary survey that confirmed Thibaudeau's findings. However development did not proceed due to severals reasons: # the inhospitable terrain # severe climatic conditions # geographic remoteness # long distance transmission requirement # the lack of markets for such a large block of power In August, 1949 , Joseph R. Smallwood , Premier Of Newfoundland , had the opportunity to see Churchill Falls for the first time and it became his obsession to develop the hydroelectric potential of the falls. In 1953 British Newfoundland Corporation (Brinco) was formed to do extensive exploration of the untapped water and mineral resources. With the development of the iron-ore mines in western Labrador and the construction of the Quebec North Shore And Labrador Railway ( 1954 ), development of Churchill Falls as a power source became feasible. After years of planning, the project was officially started on , but by a series of 88 dikes that total 64 km (40 miles) in length. Once all the Dikes were in place, it provided a vast storage area which later became known as Smallwood Reservoir . This reservoir covers 2,200 mi² (5,700 km²) and provides storage area for more than 1,000 million ft³ (28 million m³) of water. The drainage area for the Churchill River includes much of western and central Labrador. Ossokmanuan Reservoir which was originally developed as part of the Twin Falls Power System also drains into this system. Churchill River's natural drainage area covers over 23,300 mi² (60,300 km²). Once Orma and Sail lakes' outlets were diked, it added another 4,400 mi² (11,400 km²) of drainage for a total of 26,700 mi² (69,200 km&2)). This makes the drainage area larger than the Republic Of Ireland . Studies showed this drainage area collected 410 mm (16 in) of rainfall plus 391 cm (154 in) of snowfall annually equaling 12.5 mi³ (52 km³) of water per year; more than enough to meet the project's needs. Construction came to fruition on December 6 , 1971 , when Churchill Falls went into full-time production. ABORIGINAL RIGHTS The Churchill Falls hydroelectric plant development was undertaken in the absence of any agreement with the Aboriginal Innu people of Labrador. Despite the flooding of over 5,000 km&2 of traditional hunting and trapping lands, no compensation was ever offered. PROJECT FACTS
SPECIFICATIONS AND STATISTICS Power station Civil engineering SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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