Churchill Falls are waterfalls, 245 ft (75 m) high, on the Churchill River in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Since 1970, the waters of the Churchill River have been diverted into the nearby Churchill Falls hydroelectric power station. Water flows down the falls less than once a decade, during spring thaw or periods of exceptional rains. These are named for former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. Churchill river newfoundland and churchill falls The Churchill River (French: fleuve Churchill) is a river in Newfoundland and Labrador which flows east from the Smallwood Reservoir in Labrador into the Atlantic Ocean via Lake Melville. ... Motto: Quaerite Prime Regnum Dei (Latin: Seek ye first the kingdom of God) Official languages English Flower Pitcher Plant Tree Black Spruce Bird Atlantic Puffin Capital St. ...

Churchill Falls were first explored in 1839 by John McLean, a trader of the Hudson's Bay Company. MacLean named the river the Hamilton River, after Newfoundland Governor, Sir Charles Hamilton. The falls were known as Grand Falls until 1965 when both names were changed to the Churchill River and Churchill Falls to honour the former British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill. 1839 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... John McLean (March 11, 1785 – April 4, 1861) was an American jurist and politician who served in the United States Congress, as U.S. Postmaster General, and as a justice on the Ohio and U.S. Supreme Courts. ... The Hudsons Bay Company (HBC) is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and is one of the oldest in the world. ... Newfoundland —   (stress on final syllable; for mispronunciations, see Newfoundland travel guide from Wikitravel)— (French: , Irish: ) is a large island off the east coast of North America, and the most populous part of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. ... Sir Charles Hamilton (May 25, 1767 – September 14, 1849) was a British naval officer and governor of Newfoundland. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... Churchill river newfoundland and churchill falls The Churchill River (French: fleuve Churchill) is a river in Newfoundland and Labrador which flows east from the Smallwood Reservoir in Labrador into the Atlantic Ocean via Lake Melville. ... This article is becoming very long. ...

The Churchill Falls power station has the second largest hydroelectric-generating capacity in North America (5,248 MW installed, expandable to about 6,300 MW) and is also the second largest underground power station in the world, after the Robert-Bourassa generating station in northern Quebec. Hydroelectric dam diagram The waters of Llyn Stwlan, the upper reservoir of the Ffestiniog Pumped-Storage Scheme in north Wales, can just be glimpsed on the right. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... An underground power station is a type of hydroelectric power station constructed by excavating the major components (e. ... Robert-Bourassa is a hydroelectric generating station on the La Grande River that is part of Hydro-Québecs James Bay Project. ... Motto: Je me souviens (French: I remember) Official languages French Flower Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor Linné) Tree Yellow Birch Bird Snowy Owl Capital Quebec City Largest city Montreal Lieutenant-Governor Lise Thibault Premier Jean Charest (PLQ) Parliamentary representation  - House seat  - Senate seats 75 24 Area Total  - Land  - Water  (% of...

Four miles (6 km) above the falls, the Churchill River narrowed to 200 ft (60 m) and negotiated a series of rapids before dropping into MacLean Canyon, from which sheer cliffs rise several hundred feet on either side. The river flowed 12 miles (19 km) through the canyon over a series of rapids. The total drop from the rapids above the main falls to the end of MacLean Canyon is 1,038 ft (316 m). Churchill river newfoundland and churchill falls The Churchill River (French: fleuve Churchill) is a river in Newfoundland and Labrador which flows east from the Smallwood Reservoir in Labrador into the Atlantic Ocean via Lake Melville. ...

Hydroelectric power project

In 1894, Albert Peter Low of the Geological Survey of Canada reached the Grand Falls during his study of the large number of iron-ore deposits in western Labrador and northeastern Quebec. In 1915, Wilfred Thibaudeau surveyed the Labrador Plateau and engineered a channel scheme which could be used to divert the water from the river before it arrived at the falls. The scheme would use the natural capacity of the basin, thereby eliminating the need for the construction of massive dams. The Geological Survey of Canada or GSC is part of the Earth Sciences Sector of Natural Resources Canada. ... 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... This article is about the region in Canada. ... Scrivener Dam, in Canberra, Australia, was engineered to withstand a once-in-5000-years flood A dam is a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs or retards the flow, often creating a reservoir, lake or impoundment. ...

The generator gallery in the Powerhouse, Churchill Falls Labrador. The gallery is approximately 1000 feet (300 m) long and 1000 feet underground

In 1947, Commander G.H. Desbarats, under the direction of the Newfoundland Government, completed a preliminary survey that confirmed Thibaudeau's findings. However development did not proceed due to several reasons: Churchill Falls powerhouse Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Churchill Falls powerhouse Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... Newfoundland —   (stress on final syllable; for mispronunciations, see Newfoundland travel guide from Wikitravel)— (French: , Irish: ) is a large island off the east coast of North America, and the most populous part of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. ...

1. the inhospitable terrain
2. severe climatic conditions
3. geographic remoteness
4. long distance transmission requirement
5. the lack of markets for such a large block of power

In August, 1949, Joseph R. Smallwood, Premier of Newfoundland, had the opportunity to see Churchill Falls for the first time and it became his obsession to develop the hydroelectric potential of the falls. In 1953 British Newfoundland Corporation (Brinco) was formed to do extensive exploration of the untapped water and mineral resources. With the development of the iron-ore mines in western Labrador and the construction of the Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway (1954), development of Churchill Falls as a power source became feasible. 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1949 calendar). ... Joey Smallwood (center) Joseph Roberts Joey Smallwood (December 24, 1900 - December 18, 1991) was the last Father of Confederation in Canada, bringing Newfoundland into Confederation in 1949. ... Categories: Newfoundland and Labrador premiers | Stub ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... The Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway is a Canadian regional railway that stretches 357 miles (575 kilometres) through the wilderness of northeastern Quebec and western Labrador. ... 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

After years of planning, the project was officially started on July 17, 1967. The machine hall of the power facility at Churchill Falls was hollowed out of solid rock, close to 1,000 feet (300 m) underground. Its final proportions are huge: in height it equals a 15-storey building, its length is three times that of a football field. When completed, it housed 11 generating units, with a combined capacity of 5,428 MW (more than 7,000,000 horsepower). Water is contained by a reservoir created not by a single large dam, but by a series of 88 dikes that total 64 km (40 miles) in length. July 17 is the 198th day (199th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 167 days remaining. ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... Scrivener Dam, in Canberra, Australia, was engineered to withstand a once-in-5000-years flood A dam is a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs or retards the flow, often creating a reservoir, lake or impoundment. ...

Once all the dikes were in place, it provided a vast storage area which later became known as Smallwood Reservoir. This reservoir covers 2,200 mi² (5,700 km²) and provides storage area for more than 1,000 million ft³ (28 million m³) of water. Afsluitdijk, a 32 km dike in the Netherlands. ... The Smallwood Reservoir is a large reservoir located in the western part of Labrador in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. ...

Churchill Falls, Labrador

The drainage area for the Churchill River includes much of western and central Labrador. Ossokmanuan Reservoir which was originally developed as part of the Twin Falls Power System also drains into this system. Churchill River's natural drainage area covers over 23,300 mi² (60,300 km²). Once Orma and Sail lakes' outlets were diked, it added another 4,400 mi² (11,400 km²) of drainage for a total of 27,700 mi² (71,700 km²). This makes the drainage area larger than the Republic of Ireland. Studies showed this drainage area collected 410 mm (16 in) of rainfall plus 391 cm (154 in) of snowfall annually equalling 12.5 mi³ (52 km³) of water per year; more than enough to meet the project's needs. Construction came to fruition on December 6, 1971, when Churchill Falls went into full-time production. Download high resolution version (1120x304, 58 KB)Churchill Falls Power Site, Labrador Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (1120x304, 58 KB)Churchill Falls Power Site, Labrador Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... There is more than one river named the Churchill River: Churchill River (Hudson Bay), which runs through Saskatchewan and Manitoba and drains into Hudson Bay; Churchill River (Atlantic), which drains the Smallwood Reservoir in Labrador into the Atlantic Ocean via Lake Melville. ... Twin Falls, Labrador Twin Falls are waterfalls, 175 ft (53m) high, located on the Unknown River, a tributary of the Churchill River that drains the central Labrador basin and flows into Lake Melville and the Atlantic Ocean. ... December 6 is the 340th day (341st on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ...

The generating station is owned and operated by the Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro company. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Aboriginal rights

The underground transformer gallery at Churchill Falls Labrador

The Churchill Falls hydroelectric plant development was undertaken in the absence of any agreement with the aboriginal Innu people of Labrador. Despite the flooding of over 5,000 km² of traditional hunting and trapping lands, no compensation was ever offered. Churchill Falls generator gallery Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Churchill Falls generator gallery Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Aboriginal peoples in Canada are Indigenous Peoples recognized in the Canadian Constitution Act, 1982, sections 25 and 35, respectively, as Indians (First Nations), Métis, and Inuit. ... The Innu are the indigenous inhabitants of an area they refer to as Nitassinan, which comprises most of the Quebec-Labrador peninsula in Eastern Canada. ...

Project Facts

• Churchill Falls power plant is the second largest hydroelectric plant in North America, with an installed capacity of 5,248 MW.
• Churchill Falls was, at the time of its construction, the largest underground power station in the world. (The Robert-Bourassa power station in Quebec currently holds the record, both for installed capacity and volume of the main underground hall).
• The powerhouse is 972 ft long, up to 81 ft wide and 154 ft high from the bottom to the top (296 m by 25 m by 47 m). The height would be equivalent to a 15-storey building, as long as 3 football fields and is hollowed from solid granite. To strengthen walls and ceiling, more then 11,000 rock bolts (steel rods 15 to 25 ft (5 to 8 m) long) were used in the three major chambers.
• To move the 2.3 million yd³ (1.9 million m³) of rock that was excavated from the underground caverns, it required 5 million pounds (2,300 tonnes) of explosives. This material was used in roads, building the town site, and as dike material.
• The turbine wheels are cast of stainless steel and weigh 80 short tons (70 tonnes) which is a world record for the largest stainless steel casting ever made.
• During construction, 730,000 short tons (660,000 tonnes) of material, equipment and fuel were moved to the site.
• The natural catchment area for the Churchill River covers over 23,300 mi² (60,300 km²).
• By diverting the water from the Ossokmanuan Reservoir the total catchment area became 27,700 mi² (71,700 km²).
• Total natural drop of the water starting at Ashuanipi Lake and ending at Lake Melville is 1,735 ft (529 m). As a comparison, the water starting 30 km (20 mi) upriver until it enters the power plant drops over 1,000 ft (300 m).
• There is no big dam associated with this hydropower plant. There are 88 dikes to contain the reservoir, the longest is 6.1 km (3.8 miles) and the highest is 36 m (117 ft). The total length of all dikes is 64 km (40 miles) and contains 26 million yd³ (22,000,000 m³) of embankment material.
• After five years of non-stop field work by approximately 6,300 workers and costing $950,000,000 (1970) construction culminated on December 6, 1971 when the first two generating units began delivering power, five months and three weeks ahead of schedule.
• Currently Churchill Falls makes almost 1% of the world's hydroelectric power.
• Newfoundland and Labrador recently announced a call to develop the Lower Churchill Project. This is, in fact, a number of small projects which includes a 2,100 MW dam at Gull Island, an 824 MW dam at Muskrat Falls, 1,000 MW upgrade to the existing facility at the Churchill Falls power plant. This would increase the present power production capability by an extra 4,000 MW for a total of 9,252 MW for the entire Churchill River hydroelectric complex.

Cross-section of Churchill Falls, Labrador, Canada

Hydroelectric dam diagram The waters of Llyn Stwlan, the upper reservoir of the Ffestiniog Pumped-Storage Scheme in north Wales, can just be glimpsed on the right. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America. ... An underground power station is a type of hydroelectric power station constructed by excavating the major components (e. ... A tonne (symbol t), sometimes referred to as a metric tonne, is a measurement of weight. ... WWII era steam turbine used for ship propulsion. ... The 630 foot high, stainless-clad (type 304) Gateway Arch defines St. ... The short ton is a unit of mass equal to 907. ... Lake Melville is a tidal extension of Hamilton Inlet on the Labrador coast in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. ... Scrivener Dam, in Canberra, Australia, was engineered to withstand a once-in-5000-years flood A dam is a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs or retards the flow, often creating a reservoir, lake or impoundment. ... December 6 is the 340th day (341st on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ... Download high resolution version (1369x479, 165 KB)Churchill Falls power project This work is copyrighted. ... Download high resolution version (1369x479, 165 KB)Churchill Falls power project This work is copyrighted. ...

Specifications and statistics

Power station

The watt-hour (symbol W·h) is a unit of energy. ... In fluid dynamics, head refers to the constant right hand side in the incompressible steady version of Bernoullis equation. ... Francis turbine (courtsey Voith-Siemens). ...

Civil engineering

Churchill Falls Sport Fishing

14 Pound lake trout caught in the Churchill Falls reservoir lakes.

The community of Churchill Falls has been a popular destination for hobby and sport fisherman for many years. The construction of the hydroelectric infrastructure has created large, enclosed freshwater environments which are populated by several species of fish, including lake trout, speckle trout and northern pike. The ideal growing environment leads to lake trout weighing in excess of 20 pounds, speckle trout larger than 6 pounds, and northern pike of comparably above average weights. Image File history File links 14lbLakeTrout_ChurchillFalls. ... Image File history File links 14lbLakeTrout_ChurchillFalls. ... Binomial name Salvelinus namaycush (Walbaum, 1792) Lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) is a freshwater char living mainly in lakes in northern North America. ... caught by an angler in the river Dráva, Hungary. ...

The community of Churchill Falls can be reached via the Trans-Labrador Highway from the community of Happy Valley/Goose Bay, a nearly 5 hour drive, barring road washouts and other mishaps. The long travel time means that most fishers will plan to stay at one of the local fishing and hunting lodges, or will make camping arrangements. To reduce the amount of food needed, campers will often eat the northern pike caught, and save the more desirable trout catch to take home. The Trans-Labrador Highway (TLH) is a Canadian highway located in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. ...

Black bears are a concern in this area, as many visiting fishermen will clean and discard their fish entrails near the camping or boat launch areas. Binomial name Ursus americanus Pallas, 1780 The American black bear (Ursus americanus), also known as the cinnamon bear, is the most common bear species native to North America. ...

The 240 km between Labrador City & Churchill Falls was drivable in 4 hours in July 2006, in an ordinary vehicle. The 290 km drive between Churchill Falls & Happy Valley-Goose Bay took 5 hours the same day, same vehicle. The Trans-Labrador Highway is drivable in an ordinary vehicle, but a truck/SUV is best.

See also

• Twin Falls, Labrador
• Re Upper Churchill Water Rights Reversion Act

Twin Falls, Labrador Twin Falls are waterfalls, 175 ft (53m) high, located on the Unknown River, a tributary of the Churchill River that drains the central Labrador basin and flows into Lake Melville and the Atlantic Ocean. ... Court membership Chief Justice: Bora Laskin Puisne Justices: Roland Ritchie, Brian Dickson, Jean Beetz, Willard Estey, William McIntyre, Julien Chouinard, Antonio Lamer, Bertha Wilson Case opinions Unanimous opinion by: McIntyre J. Reference Re Upper Churchill Water Rights Reversion Act [1984] 1 S.C.R. 297 is a famous constitutional reference...

External links

• Churchill Falls Hydroelectric project
• Satellite Photo of Churchill Falls
• Profile of the Innu people of Labrador
• Hon. Brian Tobin 1996 speech to the Empire Club