AMÉNAGEMENT ROBERT-BOURASSA & CENTRALE LA GRANDE-1

Hydro-Québec is one of the largest electric utilities in North America. It generates, transmits and distributes almost all the electricity consumed in the province. Virtually all of its production comes from hydroelectric generating stations, including nearly half of the La Grande complex. The latter is made up of a series of hydroelectric developments in the watershed of the Grande Rivière, as well as other rivers in the Nord-du-Québec administrative region.

Two of its facilities can be visited in the James Bay region, starting with the Robert-Bourassa development, which is the world's largest underground hydroelectric power station and the continent's largest energy production site. Its dam is impressive, reaching the equivalent of a 53-storey building, which overlooks a staircase of ten steps - each equivalent to two soccer pitches - of titanic dimensions. It makes you feel very small!

The La Grande-1 power station is the final link in this immense complex. The amount of concrete required for its construction is equivalent to the length of a sidewalk between Montreal and Miami.

To see these masterpieces up close, visit the Complexe Pierre-Radisson, where guided tours depart in season. However, you'll have to make your own way to Centrale La Grande-1 (about 1h15 on a fully paved road).