|
Niagara Generating Stations
The Niagara River although only 56
kilometers long, is one of the
world's greatest sources of hydro-electric power. The beauty of its
wild descent from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario attracts millions of
visitors each year. During its short course, the river drops 99 meters
with much of this spectacular plunge concentrated in a 13 km stretch of
falls and rapids.
Water was first diverted from the Canadian
side of the Niagara River
for the generation of electricity in 1893. A small 2,200 kilowatt plant
was built just above the horseshoe Falls to power an electric railway
between the historic communities of Queenston and Chippawa.
Today the churning river provides the
driving force for almost 2
million kW of electricity from a number of power plants of the Canadian
side. The three largest are Sir Adam Beck Niagara Generating Station
Nos. 1 and 2 and the nearby pumping-generating station.
On the American side of the border, down river from the Falls, the
Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant and the Lewiston Pump Generating
plant, together generate more than 2.4 million kilowatts of
electricity, enough to light 24 million 100 watt bulbs.
Although there are no tours offered of Power Plants on the Canadian
side of the border there is a reception centre at the Robert Moses
Niagara Power Plant on the American side of the border. For more
information about tours phone (716) 285-3211
For more information about Ontario Hydro, phone 1-800-263-9000
Related
Links:
|
