Génissiat Dam

Génissiat Dam
Génissiat Dam
Location of Génissiat Dam in France
Official nameBarrage de Génissiat
CountryFrance
Coordinates46°03′10″N 5°48′44″E / 46.052811°N 5.81225°E / 46.052811; 5.81225
Construction began1937
Opening dateJanuary 1948 (1948-01)
Dam and spillways
Height104.00 m
Length165.00 m
Width (crest)9.00 m
Width (base)57.00 m
Dam volume440,000 m3
Reservoir
Total capacity56.00 hm3
Power Station
Installed capacity420 MW
Annual generation1,700,000,000 kWh

The Génissiat Dam (French: Barrage de Génissiat) is a hydroelectric dam on the Rhône in France near the village of Injoux-Génissiat. Construction began in 1937, but was delayed by World War II, and the dam did not start generating power until 1948. By 1949 it had the greatest capacity of any dam in Europe.