Official name Barrage de Marèges Opening date 1935 Construction began 1932 | Country France Status Operational Opened 1935 | |
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Owner(s) Société Hydoélectrique du Midi (SHEM) Similar Barrage Du Chastang, Barrage de Bort‑les‑Orgues, Barrage de la Valette, Barrage de Saint‑Étienne‑Cantalès, Barrage de Grandval | ||
The Marèges Dam is a concrete arch dam on the Dordogne River. It is located 4 km (2 mi) southeast of Liginiac in Corrèze department, France. It was constructed between 1932 and 1935 by the Railway Company du Midi. Its primary purpose is the generation of hydroelectricity and the original power station contained four Francis turbine-generators. The dam and power plant was built to help France become less dependent on costly energy resource imports after World War I. The fifth Francis turbine-generator, rated at 122 MW, at the Saint Pierre power station, on the left bank of the river, was commissioned in 1988. The dam, designed by André Coyne, incorporated several innovative features to include a ski-jump spillway, the right abutment anchored with a prestressed cable and monitored with audible signals and a new cofferdam design.