Lake Zumbro Hydroelectric Generating Plant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lake Zumbro Hydroelectric Generating Plant
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The Lake Zumbro Hydroelectric Generating Plant and Dam viewed from the north
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | Off County Road 21 at north end of Lake Zumbro, Mazeppa Township, Minnesota |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1917–1919 |
| Built by | Omaha Structural Steel Bridge Company |
| Architect | Hugh Lincoln Cooper |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| MPS | Minnesota Hydroelectric Generating Facilities MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 91000243 |
| Designated | March 14, 1991 |
The Lake Zumbro Hydroelectric Generating Plant is a special power station in Wabasha County, Minnesota. It uses the power of water to make electricity. This plant is also known as the City of Rochester Municipal Hydro-Electric Plant.
It sits on the Zumbro River and includes a large dam and a building called a powerhouse. The dam creates a lake called Lake Zumbro. This plant helps supply power to Rochester, Minnesota, which is about 15 miles (24 km) away.
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What is the Lake Zumbro Plant?
The Lake Zumbro Hydroelectric Plant is a place where water power is turned into electricity. It has two main parts: a dam and a powerhouse. The dam holds back the river water, creating a large lake behind it. This lake is called Lake Zumbro.
The dam is very long, about 440 feet (134 meters) across. It is also quite tall, standing 60 feet (18 meters) high. This height creates a "head" of about 55 feet (17 meters), which means the water has enough force to spin turbines and make electricity.
How the Plant Makes Power
A hydroelectric plant works by using the natural flow of water. Water from Lake Zumbro flows through large pipes called penstocks. This moving water spins giant wheels called turbines.
These turbines are connected to generators. When the turbines spin, the generators create electricity. This electricity is then sent out to homes and businesses. It's a clean way to make power because it doesn't burn fuel or create pollution.
History of the Lake Zumbro Plant
The Lake Zumbro Hydroelectric Generating Plant was built a long time ago, between 1917 and 1919. It was designed by a very famous engineer named Hugh Lincoln Cooper. He was a leader in building hydroelectric projects in the early 1900s.
This plant was special because it was the only project Cooper designed in his home state of Minnesota. It has been making power for over 100 years. The plant is still run by its first owner, Rochester Public Utilities (RPU).
A Historic Engineering Feat
Because of its important design and long history, the Lake Zumbro Hydroelectric Generating Plant was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. This means it is recognized as an important historical site for engineering. It shows how skilled engineers like Hugh Lincoln Cooper were in building large power systems.
Boating Incident at the Dam
On August 24, 2019, a boat with three people accidentally went over the dam. They had just left the shore and got too close to the edge of the dam. One person jumped off the boat and swam to safety.
The other three people went over the dam in the boat. Luckily, the boat landed upright, and everyone on board only had minor injuries. Firefighters, sheriff's deputies, and other boaters quickly came to help. All four people were safely rescued from the water.
