Chilhowee Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Chilhowee Hydroelectric Development
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Chilhowee Dam in 2017
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| Location | Blount / Monroe counties, Tennessee, USA |
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| Nearest city | Maryville, Tennessee |
| Built | 1957 |
| NRHP reference No. | 04000546 |
| Added to NRHP | May 7, 2004 |
The Chilhowee Dam is a big hydroelectric dam located in Tennessee, USA. It sits on the Little Tennessee River, right between Blount and Monroe counties. Building the dam started in 1955 and was finished just two years later, in 1957.
The dam creates a large lake called Chilhowee Reservoir. This lake covers about 1,734 acres (which is about 702 hectares) when it's full. Water from a huge area of 1,977 square miles (about 5,120 square kilometers) drains into this reservoir. The surface of Chilhowee Reservoir is about 874 feet (or 266 meters) above sea level.
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How Chilhowee Dam Makes Power
Chilhowee Dam is designed to create electricity using the power of water. Inside the dam's powerhouse, there are three special machines called Kaplan turbines. These turbines work together to generate a lot of power.
Generating Electricity for Homes
The three turbines at Chilhowee Dam can produce a combined total of 48 megawatts of electricity. This power is then sent out to help light up homes and power businesses. It's a clean way to make energy!
Who Manages Chilhowee Dam?
Chilhowee Dam is part of a bigger system of dams on the Little Tennessee River. It works closely with other dams like Calderwood and Cheoah.
Working with Fontana Dam
The main control center for the lower part of the Little Tennessee River is the Fontana Dam. This means Fontana Dam helps decide how much water flows through Chilhowee and the other dams. The company that built and still runs the Chilhowee Dam is called Tapoco.
A Historic Structure
Chilhowee Dam and its powerhouse are very important. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are recognized as a significant historical site, known as the Chilhowee Hydroelectric Development.
What Happens During Maintenance?
Sometimes, the lake behind Chilhowee Dam needs to be lowered for maintenance work. When this happens, you can see something cool! The old bridge of US 129, which used to cross Abrams Creek, becomes visible. It's like a peek into the past!
