La Cité de l'Énergie facts for kids
Observation tower at La Cité de l'Énergie
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| Established | June 21, 1997 |
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| Location | Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada |
| Type | theme park |
La Cité de l'Énergie (which means the city of energy in French) is a fun theme park in Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada. It teaches visitors about the area's rich industrial history, especially how electricity was made. The park opened its doors on June 21, 1997.
Contents
What Can You See at La Cité de l'Énergie?
La Cité de l'Énergie has many exciting things to explore. You can learn about science, see old power plants, and even enjoy a cool multimedia show!
The Science Center and Observation Tower
The park has a modern science center. Inside, you'll find an amazing interactive exhibit where you can touch and play to learn. There's also a special multimedia show that brings science to life.
One of the coolest parts is the tall observation tower. It stands 115 m (377 ft) high! This tower is actually made from parts of an old lattice tower (a type of electricity pylon). This pylon was once used to carry power lines across the Saint Lawrence River while a tunnel was being built. From the top, you get an amazing view of the whole area!
Exploring Historical Power Plants
The park also has a special historical area. Here, you can visit two old power plants: the Northern Aluminum Company (NAC) plant and the Shawinigan 2 plant. You can also see the ruins of a third plant, Alcan 16. These places show how electricity was made a long time ago.
The Northern Aluminum Company (NAC) Plant
The NAC plant was built around 1906. It was owned by Alcan, a company that made aluminium. This plant helped power their factories. By the early 1950s, it was no longer used for making power. Today, you can visit it and see what it was like!
The Shawinigan 2 Hydroelectric Station
The Shawinigan 2 plant was built in 1911 and made even bigger in 1928. It was first run by the Shawinigan Water & Power Company. Since 1963, Hydro-Québec has operated it. The building itself is very interesting, with beautiful Renaissance architecture and Art Deco styles. Inside, you can see huge machines: five generators powered by horizontal turbines and three generators powered by vertical turbines. These machines turn the force of water into electricity!
Who Manages La Cité de l'Énergie?
La Cité de l'Énergie is run by a non-profit organization. This means it's not trying to make money for owners, but rather to educate and entertain. Important companies like Abitibi-Consolidated, Alcan, and Hydro-Québec, along with the City of Shawinigan, help fund the park.
Robert Trudel has been the main leader and spokesperson for La Cité de l'Énergie since it first opened.
How La Cité de l'Énergie Helps Tourism
Since it opened in 1997, La Cité de l'Énergie has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors. It's a very popular place! The park is usually open to everyone from June to September each year. If you're part of a group, you might be able to visit at other times too. It helps bring many tourists to the Shawinigan area.
See also
- History of Hydro-Québec
- List of hydroelectric stations in Quebec
- Lattice tower
