Fun Facts
- The biggest hydroelectric dam in the United States is the Grand Coulee Dam in Washington. Started in 1933 and completed in 1942, it's the largest concrete structure ever built: 5,233 feet long and 550 feet high!
- Canada is the top hydroelectric generating country!
- Many countries, such as Norway and Brazil, get a significant portion of their electricity (as much as 85%) from hydropower.
- Water turbines are also known as water wheels.
- Hydro-power is one of the oldest power sources on the planet, generating power when flowing water spins a wheel or turbine.
- In 2006, hydroelectricity supplied around 20% of the world's electricity
- Hydro-power is clean. It prevents the burning of 22 billion gallons of oil or 120 million tons of coal each year.