James B. Francis
Encyclopedia
James Bicheno Francis was a British
-American
engineer
, who invented the Francis turbine
.
, near Witney
, Oxfordshire
in England
, United Kingdom
. He started his engineering career at the early age of 14 as he worked as his father's apprentice at the Port Craw Railway and Harbor Works in South Wales
. When he turned 18, he decided to emigrate to the United States
, in 1833. His first job was in Stonington, Connecticut
as an assistant to the railway engineer George Washington Whistler Jr.
, working on the New York and New Haven Railroad
. A year later, James and his boss, Whistler, travelled north to Lowell, MA, where at the age of 19, he got a draftsman job with the Locks and Canal Company
, and Whistler became chief engineer.
A few short years later, in 1837, G.W. Whistler resigned and he and his son, the famous painter James Whistler, went to work on Russia
's major railroads, and appointed Francis to Chief Engineer, and sold him his house on Worthen street. That same year, James married Sarah W. Brownell in Lowell on July 12, 1837. Their first son, James Jr. was born March 30, 1840, and then they had five more children.
In 1841 came his first major project for the company. Francis was to analysis how much water each mill factory was using from the company's channel system. Impressed by his abilities, the company named him "Manager of Locks and Canals" in 1845.
As Manager & Chief Engineer, Francis was responsible for the construction of the Northern Canal and Moody Street Feeder
. These two canals, built in the late 1840s and early 1850s, completed the 5.6 mile long Lowell canal system, and greatly increased its industrial power of the thriving industrial city's mill complexes.
During his work on the Lowell systems, James was also consulted on many other water projects nationwide. When New York needed to increase their water supply, he consulted on the construction of the Quaker Bridge Dam
on the Croton River
in New York
. He also consulted on the dam at Saint Anthony Falls
on the Mississippi river
.
Their son James fought in the American Civil War
as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1861. He was wounded in the hand at the Battle of Antietam
as a Captain, and finished the war in July 1865 as Lieutenant Colonel
.
constructed with a 36 inches (914.4 mm) underground cast-iron branch mains connecting to several mills. The first simple gravity system was first implemented at the Suffolk Mill Picker Houses. About twenty years later, in 1869, Francis contracted Frederick Ginnell of the Providence Steam and Gas Pipe Company to install a "perforated pipe" system invented in England
by John Carney in 1906, to work with Francis' system. The two became friends, and shared and tested many ideas. Their systems also became very popular with the mill owners and insurance companies, and the Providence Steam and Gas Pipe Company began installing similar systems throughout the mills in Fall River, Massachusetts
and elsewhere.
The Francis system was simple: Valves would be opened manually, allowing water to flow through an array of pipes tucked close to ceilings, and ending with small jets spraying the water. The big issue was that this sprinkler system was throughout the entire building, so any use of the system would flood the entire structure and all its contents. It was not until 1875, that Henry Parmelee invented a sprinkler head that only activated one at a time, and that is when sprinkler systems became very popular.
first demonstrated his Boyden turbine in Lowell. The two engineers worked on improving the turbine. And in 1848, Francis and Boyden successfully improved the turbine with, what is now known as the Francis turbine
. Francis' turbine eclipsed the Boyden turbine, in power by 90%. In 1855, Francis published this important findings in the "Lowell Hydraulic Experiments".
In 1850, he also ordered the construction of the Great Gate over the Pawtucket Canal to protect the downtown mills from any devastating floods. This project quickly became known as; "Francis' Folly", for no one believed it would work, never mind that it may ever be needed. But, less than two years later, in 1852, the gates saved the city of Lowell from the devastating floods of 1852, then again in; 1936, 1938
, 2006
, and 2007 by preventing the Merrimack River from entering the canal system. However, arson damage to the wooden gate in the 1970s, and the difficult method of dropping it (by breaking a large chain link) prompted the city to use a more modern steel-beam bulkhead in its place in 2006. For his efforts in saving the city from great disaster Mr. Francis was awarded a massive silver pitcher and a salver
by the City of Lowell.
In 1886, James B. Francis, teamed up with two other Civil Engineers; Eliot C. Clarke and Clemens Herschel to study and publish their findings in the "Prevention of Floods in the Valley of Stony Brook" which laid out a flood prevention system for the city of Boston
. The intense study reviewed the Forest Hills, Hyde Park, Franklin park and Roslindale sections of the city that were subject to flooding.
In 1889, Francis was also called to duty as a member of the commission to examine the cause of the Johnstown, PA
disaster, when the South Fork Dam
broke, killing over 2,200 people.
from 1862 to 1864.
In 1865, James researched and publish his findings on cast iron, and their use as structural columns in; "The Strength of Cast-Iron Columns."
Francis also originated scientific method
s of testing hydraulic machinery, and was a founding member of the American Society of Civil Engineers
and its president in 1880.
In 1883, James completed his calculation standards for water flow rates, now known as the Francis equation or Francis Formula, usually used in Fluid Dynamics
in conjunction with calculating weir
s. Q=3.33h1 3/2 (L-0.2h1)
Q= discharge in ft3/s neglecting velocity of approach
L =the length of weir in feet
h1= head on the weir in feet
He remained at the Locks and Canal Company
for his entire career, until retirement in 1884 at the age of 69, and remained on as a consultant right up until his death. His son James took over as Chief Engineer. The rest of his life he spent with his wife Sarah, and their six children in their home on Worthen Street, which was Whistlers old home and now the Whistler House Museum of Art
. Francis died at the on September 18, 1892, age of 77, and is buried at Lowell Cemetery
under a massive pillar of cut granite stones, symbolizing the stones used to make the canals.
Today, the Francis Turbine is the most widely used Water turbine
in the world, including China's new Three Gorges Dam
as the world's largest hydroelectric power station in the world, with a future installed capacity of 22,500 MW. With the incorporation of the Francis turbine into almost every hydroelectric dam built since 1900, it is responsible for generating almost 1/5 of all the worlds electricity:
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
, who invented the Francis turbine
Francis turbine
The Francis turbine is a type of water turbine that was developed by James B. Francis in Lowell, Massachusetts. It is an inward-flow reaction turbine that combines radial and axial flow concepts....
.
Early years
James Francis was born in South LeighSouth Leigh
South Leigh is a village and civil parish on Limb Brook, a small tributary of the River Thames, about east of Witney in Oxfordshire.-Manor:South Leigh was not mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, but was recorded in 1190 as Stanton Lega....
, near Witney
Witney
Witney is a town on the River Windrush, west of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England.The place-name 'Witney' is first attested in a Saxon charter of 969 as 'Wyttannige'; it appears as 'Witenie' in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name means 'Witta's island'....
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He started his engineering career at the early age of 14 as he worked as his father's apprentice at the Port Craw Railway and Harbor Works in South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
. When he turned 18, he decided to emigrate to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, in 1833. His first job was in Stonington, Connecticut
Stonington, Connecticut
The Town of Stonington is located in New London County, Connecticut, in the state's southeastern corner. It includes the borough of Stonington, the villages of Pawcatuck, Lords Point, Wequetequock, the eastern halves of the villages of Mystic and Old Mystic...
as an assistant to the railway engineer George Washington Whistler Jr.
George Washington Whistler
George Washington Whistler was a prominent American railroad engineer in the first half of the 19th century....
, working on the New York and New Haven Railroad
New York and New Haven Railroad
The New York and New Haven Railroad was a railroad connecting New York City to New Haven, Connecticut along the shore of the Long Island Sound. It opened in 1849, and in 1872 it merged with the Hartford and New Haven Railroad to form the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad...
. A year later, James and his boss, Whistler, travelled north to Lowell, MA, where at the age of 19, he got a draftsman job with the Locks and Canal Company
Proprietors of Locks and Canals
The Proprietors of Locks and Canals on the Merrimack River is a limited liability corporation founded on June 27, 1792, making it one of the oldest corporations in the United States....
, and Whistler became chief engineer.
A few short years later, in 1837, G.W. Whistler resigned and he and his son, the famous painter James Whistler, went to work on Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
's major railroads, and appointed Francis to Chief Engineer, and sold him his house on Worthen street. That same year, James married Sarah W. Brownell in Lowell on July 12, 1837. Their first son, James Jr. was born March 30, 1840, and then they had five more children.
In 1841 came his first major project for the company. Francis was to analysis how much water each mill factory was using from the company's channel system. Impressed by his abilities, the company named him "Manager of Locks and Canals" in 1845.
As Manager & Chief Engineer, Francis was responsible for the construction of the Northern Canal and Moody Street Feeder
Lowell Power Canal System and Pawtucket Gatehouse
Main Article History of Lowell, MassachusettsThe Lowell Power Canal System is the largest power canal system in the United States, at 5.6 miles in length. The system's estimated output is 10,000 horsepower, operating six major canals on two levels, controlled by numerous gates...
. These two canals, built in the late 1840s and early 1850s, completed the 5.6 mile long Lowell canal system, and greatly increased its industrial power of the thriving industrial city's mill complexes.
During his work on the Lowell systems, James was also consulted on many other water projects nationwide. When New York needed to increase their water supply, he consulted on the construction of the Quaker Bridge Dam
New Croton Dam
The New Croton Dam, part of the New York City water supply system, stretches across the Croton River near Croton-on-Hudson, New York, about north of New York City. Construction began in 1892 and was completed in 1906. Designed by Alphonse Fteley , this masonry dam is broad at its base and high...
on the Croton River
Croton River
The Croton River is a river in southern New York that begins where the East and West Branches of the Croton River meet a little way downstream from the Croton Falls Reservoir...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He also consulted on the dam at Saint Anthony Falls
Saint Anthony Falls
Saint Anthony Falls, or the Falls of Saint Anthony, located northeast of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, was the only natural major waterfall on the Upper Mississippi River. The natural falls was replaced by a concrete overflow spillway after it partially collapsed in 1869...
on the Mississippi river
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.
Their son James fought in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1861. He was wounded in the hand at the Battle of Antietam
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam , fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, as part of the Maryland Campaign, was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with about 23,000...
as a Captain, and finished the war in July 1865 as Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
.
Fire sprinkler system
In 1845, James Francis developed the first sprinkler systems ever devised in the United States. On top of Lynde Hill, in the Belvidere section of Lowell, he had a 2,000,000-gallon reservoirReservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
constructed with a 36 inches (914.4 mm) underground cast-iron branch mains connecting to several mills. The first simple gravity system was first implemented at the Suffolk Mill Picker Houses. About twenty years later, in 1869, Francis contracted Frederick Ginnell of the Providence Steam and Gas Pipe Company to install a "perforated pipe" system invented in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
by John Carney in 1906, to work with Francis' system. The two became friends, and shared and tested many ideas. Their systems also became very popular with the mill owners and insurance companies, and the Providence Steam and Gas Pipe Company began installing similar systems throughout the mills in Fall River, Massachusetts
Fall River, Massachusetts
Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located about south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and west of New Bedford and south of Taunton. The city's population was 88,857 during the 2010 census, making it the tenth largest city in...
and elsewhere.
The Francis system was simple: Valves would be opened manually, allowing water to flow through an array of pipes tucked close to ceilings, and ending with small jets spraying the water. The big issue was that this sprinkler system was throughout the entire building, so any use of the system would flood the entire structure and all its contents. It was not until 1875, that Henry Parmelee invented a sprinkler head that only activated one at a time, and that is when sprinkler systems became very popular.
Turbines
James also became fascinated with, and tinkered with turbine designs, after Uriah A. BoydenUriah A. Boyden
Uriah Atherton Boyden was a Boston inventor and mechanical engineer. He was the brother of Seth Boyden....
first demonstrated his Boyden turbine in Lowell. The two engineers worked on improving the turbine. And in 1848, Francis and Boyden successfully improved the turbine with, what is now known as the Francis turbine
Francis turbine
The Francis turbine is a type of water turbine that was developed by James B. Francis in Lowell, Massachusetts. It is an inward-flow reaction turbine that combines radial and axial flow concepts....
. Francis' turbine eclipsed the Boyden turbine, in power by 90%. In 1855, Francis published this important findings in the "Lowell Hydraulic Experiments".
Flood control
New England Hurricane of 1938
The New England Hurricane of 1938 was the first major hurricane to strike New England since 1869...
, 2006
New England Flood of May 2006
The New England Flood of May 2006 was a flood event that occurred in New England, especially in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, during the month of May, 2006. It started on May 11, 2006 as a result of an unusually strong low pressure system that stalled over the central United States, drawing...
, and 2007 by preventing the Merrimack River from entering the canal system. However, arson damage to the wooden gate in the 1970s, and the difficult method of dropping it (by breaking a large chain link) prompted the city to use a more modern steel-beam bulkhead in its place in 2006. For his efforts in saving the city from great disaster Mr. Francis was awarded a massive silver pitcher and a salver
Salver
A salver is a flat tray of silver or other metal used for carrying or serving glasses, cups and dishes at table or for the presenting of a letter or card by a servant...
by the City of Lowell.
In 1886, James B. Francis, teamed up with two other Civil Engineers; Eliot C. Clarke and Clemens Herschel to study and publish their findings in the "Prevention of Floods in the Valley of Stony Brook" which laid out a flood prevention system for the city of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. The intense study reviewed the Forest Hills, Hyde Park, Franklin park and Roslindale sections of the city that were subject to flooding.
In 1889, Francis was also called to duty as a member of the commission to examine the cause of the Johnstown, PA
Johnstown Flood
The Johnstown Flood occurred on May 31, 1889. It was the result of the catastrophic failure of the South Fork Dam situated upstream of the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA, made worse by several days of extremely heavy rainfall...
disaster, when the South Fork Dam
South Fork Dam
The South Fork Dam was located on Lake Conemaugh, an artificial body of water located near South Fork, Pennsylvania, United States. On May 31, 1889, the South Fork Dam failed catastrophically and 20 million tons of water from Lake Conemaugh burst through and raced 14 miles downstream, causing the...
broke, killing over 2,200 people.
Later years
Francis stayed active on all levels of involvement in the city of Lowell, and even served as an AldermanAlderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
from 1862 to 1864.
In 1865, James researched and publish his findings on cast iron, and their use as structural columns in; "The Strength of Cast-Iron Columns."
Francis also originated scientific method
Scientific method
Scientific method refers to a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry must be based on gathering empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of...
s of testing hydraulic machinery, and was a founding member of the American Society of Civil Engineers
American Society of Civil Engineers
The American Society of Civil Engineers is a professional body founded in 1852 to represent members of the civil engineering profession worldwide. It is the oldest national engineering society in the United States. ASCE's vision is to have engineers positioned as global leaders who strive toward...
and its president in 1880.
In 1883, James completed his calculation standards for water flow rates, now known as the Francis equation or Francis Formula, usually used in Fluid Dynamics
Fluid dynamics
In physics, fluid dynamics is a sub-discipline of fluid mechanics that deals with fluid flow—the natural science of fluids in motion. It has several subdisciplines itself, including aerodynamics and hydrodynamics...
in conjunction with calculating weir
Weir
A weir is a small overflow dam used to alter the flow characteristics of a river or stream. In most cases weirs take the form of a barrier across the river that causes water to pool behind the structure , but allows water to flow over the top...
s. Q=3.33h1 3/2 (L-0.2h1)
Q= discharge in ft3/s neglecting velocity of approach
L =the length of weir in feet
h1= head on the weir in feet
He remained at the Locks and Canal Company
Proprietors of Locks and Canals
The Proprietors of Locks and Canals on the Merrimack River is a limited liability corporation founded on June 27, 1792, making it one of the oldest corporations in the United States....
for his entire career, until retirement in 1884 at the age of 69, and remained on as a consultant right up until his death. His son James took over as Chief Engineer. The rest of his life he spent with his wife Sarah, and their six children in their home on Worthen Street, which was Whistlers old home and now the Whistler House Museum of Art
Whistler House Museum of Art
The Whistler House Museum of Art is the birthplace of painter and etcher James McNeill Whistler. It is located at 243 Worthen Street, Lowell, Massachusetts, USA, and is open as a museum displaying works from the Museum collection and shows by artist members....
. Francis died at the on September 18, 1892, age of 77, and is buried at Lowell Cemetery
Lowell Cemetery
Lowell Cemetery is a cemetery located in Lowell, Massachusetts. Founded in 1841 and located on the banks of the Concord River, the cemetery is one of the oldest garden cemeteries in the nation, inspired by Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts...
under a massive pillar of cut granite stones, symbolizing the stones used to make the canals.
Honors
For all his contributions to the world of engineering and personal generosity, the following are named in his honor:- James B. Francis College of Engineering at the University of Lowell; Masters, Ph.D and D.Eng. Engineering degrees and research in over seven Engineering programs, including Plastics and Nuclear Engineering.
- Francis Gate, Lowell MA.
- Francis TurbineFrancis turbineThe Francis turbine is a type of water turbine that was developed by James B. Francis in Lowell, Massachusetts. It is an inward-flow reaction turbine that combines radial and axial flow concepts....
.
- Francis System; an early fire protection sprinkler system.
- Francis Formula; describes water as it goes over dams. it is used today in fluid mechanicsFluid mechanicsFluid mechanics is the study of fluids and the forces on them. Fluid mechanics can be divided into fluid statics, the study of fluids at rest; fluid kinematics, the study of fluids in motion; and fluid dynamics, the study of the effect of forces on fluid motion...
as an equation for the calculation of water flow rate over a rectangular weirWeirA weir is a small overflow dam used to alter the flow characteristics of a river or stream. In most cases weirs take the form of a barrier across the river that causes water to pool behind the structure , but allows water to flow over the top...
in terms of length and head.
Notable uses of the Francis turbine
Water turbine
A water turbine is a rotary engine that takes energy from moving water.Water turbines were developed in the 19th century and were widely used for industrial power prior to electrical grids. Now they are mostly used for electric power generation. They harness a clean and renewable energy...
in the world, including China's new Three Gorges Dam
Three Gorges Dam
The Three Gorges Dam is a hydroelectric dam that spans the Yangtze River by the town of Sandouping, located in the Yiling District of Yichang, in Hubei province, China...
as the world's largest hydroelectric power station in the world, with a future installed capacity of 22,500 MW. With the incorporation of the Francis turbine into almost every hydroelectric dam built since 1900, it is responsible for generating almost 1/5 of all the worlds electricity:
- Älvkarleby Hydroelectric Power StationÄlvkarleby Hydroelectric Power StationÄlvkarleby Hydroelectric Power Plant is a hydroelectric power plant with 5 Francis turbines at Älvkarleby, Sweden. It was built in 1911. From 1988-1991 a new power plant with a single Francis turbine was added, increasing its generation power from 70 MW to 126 MW....
1911, in SwedenSwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
- early hydroelectric plant in country - Hoover DamHoover DamHoover Dam, once known as Boulder Dam, is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the US states of Arizona and Nevada. It was constructed between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression and was dedicated on September 30, 1935, by President...
1936, NevadaNevadaNevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
/ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
- 2,080 MW, world-renowned and once the largest hydroelectric power station in the world - Grand Coulee DamGrand Coulee DamGrand Coulee Dam is a gravity dam on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington built to produce hydroelectric power and provide irrigation. It was constructed between 1933 and 1942, originally with two power plants. A third power station was completed in 1974 to increase its energy...
1942, in Washington - 6,809 MW, largest power station in country - Dez DamDez DamThe Dez Dam is a large hydroelectric dam built in Iran in 1963 by an Italian consortium.The dam is on the Dez River in the Northwestern province of Khuzestan, the closest city being Andimeshk. It is high, making it one of the highest in the world, and has a reservoir capacity of...
1963, in IranIranIran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
- 520 MW, major project in country at time of construction - Gordon DamGordon DamThe Gordon Dam , is a double curvature arch dam on the Gordon River in Tasmania, Australia. The dam has a length of , and a height of , making it the tallest dam in Tasmania and the fifth-tallest in Australia....
1978, in Tasmania - 432 MW, tallest dam in country - Dalešice DamDalešice DamDalešice Dam lies on the Jihlava River in the Czech Republic. It was built between 1970 and 1978 as a water source for the nearby Dukovany Nuclear Power Station. With nearby Mohelno Dam, it is part of the Dalešice pumped-storage plant...
1978, in Czech RepublicCzech RepublicThe Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
- 480 MW, tallest dam in country - Nurek DamNurek DamThe Nurek Dam is an earth fill embankment dam on the Vakhsh River in the central Asian nation of Tajikistan. Construction of the dam began in 1961 and was completed in 1980, when Tajikistan was still a republic within the Soviet Union. At it is currently the tallest dam in the world...
1980, in TajikistanTajikistanTajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east....
- 3,000 MW, tallest dam in the world - Robert-Bourassa generating stationRobert-Bourassa generating stationThe Robert-Bourassa generating station is a hydroelectric power station on the La Grande River that is part of Hydro-Québec's James Bay Project in Canada...
1981, in CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
- 5,616 MW, largest power station in country - Itaipu Dam 1984, in BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
/ParaguayParaguayParaguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
- 14,000 MW, largest power station in the Americas - Victoria DamVictoria Dam (Sri Lanka)Victoria Dam is an arch dam located upstream of the Mahaweli River's mouth and from Teldeniya. Its main purposes are irrigation and hydroelectric power production. It is the tallest dam in Sri Lanka, and supports a power station, the largest hydroelectric power station in the country...
1985, in Sri LankaSri LankaSri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
- 210 MW, tallest dam in country
External links
- http://www.asme.org/Communities/History/Landmarks/Lowell_Power_Canal_System.cfm