Albeni Falls Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Albeni Dam |
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Aerial view of the reservoir and dam
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| Location | Bonner County, Idaho |
| Coordinates | 48°10′48″N 116°59′59″W / 48.18000°N 116.99972°W |
| Construction began | 1951 |
| Opening date | 1955 |
| Construction cost | $34 million |
| Operator(s) | United States Army Corps of Engineers |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Pend Oreille |
| Height | 90 ft (27 m) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Raises Lake Pend Oreille |
| Power station | |
| Operator(s) | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
| Installed capacity | 42 MW |
| Annual generation | 200,000,000 kWh |
Albeni Falls Dam is a large dam located on the Pend Oreille River in Idaho, USA. It sits between the towns of Oldtown, Idaho and Priest River, Idaho. The dam was built at the site of a natural waterfall. This waterfall was named Albeni Falls, after an early pioneer named Albeni Poirier.
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What is Albeni Falls Dam?
This dam is a big structure that helps control the river's water. It also plays a key role in managing the water levels of Lake Pend Oreille. Most importantly, the dam uses the power of flowing water to create electricity. It is a very important part of the power supply for the region.
Building the Dam
Work on the Albeni Falls Dam began in 1951. It took about four years to build this impressive structure. The dam was officially completed and opened in 1955. Building it cost around $34 million at that time. This amount would be much higher today, over $260 million!
How Big is It?
The Albeni Falls Dam is quite large. It stands about 90 feet (27 meters) tall. The dam stretches for 775 feet (236 meters) across the river. A special part of the dam, called the spillway, is 400 feet (122 meters) long. The spillway helps release water safely when the river is high.
Making Electricity
The dam produces a lot of electricity every year. It generates over 200 million kilowatt-hours of power. This electricity is sent to the Bonneville Power Administration. They then distribute it to homes and businesses. The dam's power plant has a capacity of 42 megawatts. This means it can produce a lot of power at once.
Who Operates the Dam?
The Albeni Falls Dam is operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. This group is responsible for many important water projects across the country. They make sure the dam works properly. They also manage the water levels to help with flood control and navigation.
