Chats Falls facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chute-des-Chats generating station |
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The Chats Falls generating station.
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| Official name | Centrale de la Chute-des-Chats |
| Coordinates | 45°28′30″N 76°14′18″W / 45.47500°N 76.23833°W |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Ottawa River |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Chats Lake (Lac des Chats) |
| Power station | |
| Hydraulic head | head 16.16 meter (53 feet) |
Chats Falls (in French: Chute des Chats, meaning "Cat Falls") was once a beautiful set of waterfalls on the Ottawa River. These falls were located near Fitzroy Harbour, Ontario, and Quyon, Quebec, in Canada. Today, a large hydroelectric power station stands here. This station makes electricity for many homes and businesses. It is owned and operated together by Hydro-Québec and Ontario Power Generation. The station is located right on the border between Ottawa, Ontario and Pontiac, Quebec.
History of Chats Falls
Before the dam and power station were built, Chats Falls was a stunning waterfall. The river dropped about 10.7 meters (35 feet) here. It was actually a series of smaller waterfalls and rapids. These falls stretched from where the dam is now, all the way to Pontiac Bay.
In their natural state, Chats Falls were a popular tourist spot. Many years ago, before World War One, large steamboats would bring sightseers up the river. People loved to come and enjoy the natural beauty of the falls.
A homestead was built near the falls in 1786. Later, in the early 1800s, big fur trading companies used this spot. The Hudson’s Bay Company operated a small trading post here. This trading post closed in 1837.
The Horse Railway at Chats Falls
In 1847, a special railway was built at Chats Falls. It was called the Union Rail Road. This railway used horses to pull carts with passengers. The track was about 5 kilometers (3 miles) long. It went through the thick forest, helping travelers get around the rough waters of the falls.
The carts had roofs to protect passengers from rain and sun. However, the sides were open, which meant mosquitoes could get in! Even with the bugs, it was an amazing experience. A newspaper editor named James Poole wrote about it in 1853. He said it felt almost magical to find a railway in the middle of the wilderness.
Chats Falls Generating Station
Construction on the power station and dam began in 1929. It was finished in 1932. Building the dam changed the waterfalls forever. It created a large lake behind the dam, which is now called Lac des Chats. The powerhouse, which holds the generators, is located in the middle of the Ottawa River. It sits right on the border between Ontario and Quebec.
On March 2, 1953, a fire broke out at the station. It burned for seven hours. The fire damaged two generators and the roof of the building. The entire station stopped working because the cables were damaged. Luckily, two of the eight generators were back online the very next day. Four more units were working again within a week. The fire caused about $2 million in damage.
The Chats Falls power station has eight large turbines. Four of these turbines are managed by Ontario Power Generation. The other four are managed by Hydro-Québec. The water drops 16.16 meters (53 feet) to spin these turbines. Together, they can generate a total of 79 megawatts of electricity.
