Donzère-Mondragon Dam, Hydroelectric power station in Bollène, France
The Donzère-Mondragon Dam is a major hydroelectric installation with an integral navigation lock situated on the Rhône River. The structure combines power generation with river transportation in a single facility that spans a considerable length along the river.
The installation was built after World War II and inaugurated in 1952 as part of France's post-war reconstruction through modern engineering. It represented one of the first large-scale hydroelectric facilities of the post-war period with innovative technology.
The dam is named after two nearby villages that were reshaped by its construction, with the lock forming a key passageway for river traffic today. Boats and barges regularly navigate through this engineering feat, making it a working part of the Rhône's transportation network.
Visitors can see the structure from outside at various viewpoints along the river and watch the lock activity. The best views are found along the riverside paths where you can observe water management and boat traffic in action.
The lock is not merely a dam structure but an active traffic artery where cargo boats and private vessels pass through daily. This makes it one of the few places where you can see modern industrial engineering directly linked with living river use.
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