Megadams

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Taming nature and putting its energy to the service of man…it’s a challenge which has been mastered thanks to the construction of hydro-electric barrages.

Three exceptional dams have revolutionized the technique of barrage building and marked their era by engineering records: In 1960, the Barrage of Serre Ponçon was the first of a series of truly gigantic feats. At a height of more than 120 meters, its reservoir constitutes the greatest artificial lake in France. Yet, to achieve this, in the valley below, two villages had to be flooded.

The Barrage of Romanche-Gavet was inaugurated only recently. Since 2020, it stands for a technology without par. It replaces no less than five barrages while being virtually invisible.

Bridges are counted among the most spectacular works of art and hold a special place in the history of engineering. They are the answer to a central challenge in the history of mankind — mastering…

For the second time, the TGV, France’s high-speed train, is the fastest train of the world. Yet, its engineers are continuously pushing for even higher speeds, having launched the new TGV Ocean and…

Taming nature and putting its energy to the service of man…it’s a challenge which has been mastered thanks to the construction of hydro-electric barrages. Three exceptional dams have…

To overcome oceans and mountains that separate us from our neighbors, engineers have pushed the limits of subterranean construction and dug tunnels which were thought impossible to achieve. We follow…

Canals are impressive masterpieces of human engineering. Join us for a closer look at three of the most well-known waterways of great historical and economic relevance. The first is Canal du Midi,…

Millions of cars, thousands of kilometers covered every day, on a network across an entire country. French highways are among the most developed in the world. There's the A40, a dizzying feat that…

The Normandy Bridge, the Chaban Delmas Bridge in Bordeaux and the Ténérez Bridge in Brittany. Three emblematic structures that have broken records in France, Europe and even the world. In 1994, the…

What drives scientists, inventors, and engi- neers to push the limits of what is possi- ble ? These innovators continually strive to design and develop technology, machines, and buildings that help…

Today’s submarines are the pinnacle of technology, the most sophisticated constructions in shipbuilding ever. In 1971, the Redoutable entered active service, a 9,000-ton vessel able to dive to a…

There are dams - and there are mega dams. La Rance, Tignes and Roselend - three emblematic structures that, in their own time, have all broken records in Europe and even the world. With their…