Kootenay Lake Crossing

Kootenay Lake Crossing was a powerline crossing of Kootenay Lake, British Columbia, Canada. The idea was to move electricity from the Hydro dam on the Kootenay River at Brilliant to the Cominco Sullivan Mine at Kimberley. The most direct route was across Kootenay Lake. It was with a span width of 3,248 metres (10,656 ft) the longest powerline span of North America and was fixed on two 90 metres (300 ft) tall electricity pylons. Roebling cable provided the steel support cable for the conductor. The height of conductor over Kootenay Lake was 37 metres (121 ft). There was a 100 metres (330 ft) steel support tower on the east shore, and rock anchored shorter towers high up on the west shore. Kootenay Lake Crossing was inaugurated in 1958, but was demolished in 1962 by explosives placed by the Sons of Freedom religious sect of the Doukhobors. The tower was rebuilt and the span lengthened in course. The powerline is still in operation today, but uses today on each site of the lake (for each phase a separate tower) situated at 49°42'2"N 116°51'59"W and at 49°42'29"N 116°54'44"W .