Gravelines Nuclear Power Station, Nuclear power facility in Nord, France
Gravelines Nuclear Power Station is a large industrial facility on France's northern coast consisting of six reactor units arranged in proximity to one another. The complex occupies considerable land directly beside the sea and is enclosed by fencing that restricts visitor access to the site.
The facility was developed during the 1970s in response to France's energy needs and began operating in 1980. Additional reactor units were added over the following years to expand the site's capacity.
The facility supports regional economic development by employing 1,680 workers and maintaining connections with local industrial partners and subcontractors.
The facility is not open to public visits and can only be viewed from outside, as it remains in a secured area. The best vantage point is from the coastal areas nearby, where the structures can be seen from a distance.
The warm water from the cooling systems is reused in nearby aquaculture operations where fish such as seabass are bred. This creative use of waste heat shows how industrial facilities can work together with surrounding communities.
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