Dam Mavosin in Switzerland

• Dam Mavosin Switzerland

Between the high alpine mountains Grand Combin (4314 m) and La Rinta (3875 meters) in a beautiful valley of Bagnes (Bagnes Valley) is a dam Movuazen. Height this second dam in Switzerland and the eighth in the world.

The dam is part of a cascade of hydroelectric plants with total capacity 363 MW. Its purpose - to create a large water reservoir, in other words, the reservoir, the water of which is supplied to the two hydroelectric plants - Fionnay (Fionnay) and Riddes (Riddes).

Despite the large size of the dam, the power stage is quite small when compared with our GES. For example, the power Chirkeyskaya hydropower plant, which has a similar arch dam height of 232 meters, is 1000 MW, and if we remember the Sayano-Shushenskaya, which, though the highest in Russia, but at 5 meters below Mavosina, its maximum capacity of 6400 MW (almost 18 times more powerful!).

Construction Mavosin dam was started in 1951 and was completed ahead of schedule in 1957, the reservoir is completely filled as early as 1958. The original height of the dam was 237 meters. In 1991, to build on another 13 meters, the reason for this was the need to increase the volume of the reservoir in winter.

This indoor spillway, from which the water during periods of high water is discharged at a speed of 107 cu. m. / sec.

Mavosin Lake (Lac de Mauvoisin) is one of the largest reservoirs in Switzerland. The maximum amount of the lake - 211.5 million cubic meters. M. It is located at an altitude of 1961 meters above sea level:

In addition to power generation, the dam is used for flood control, preventing floods, such as those that took place here in 1595 and 1818.

1960-70 over the dam threatened as Gietro - one of the largest glaciers in the Swiss Alps, adjacent to the lake Mavosin. Due to possible icefalls there was a risk of overflow of the reservoir, but since 1980 the glacier began to retreat. All measures have been taken so that this does not happen again.