The Grande-Dixence dam is the highest gravity dam in the world, at 285m. Following the hydroelectric installation at the beginning of the 21st century, the water can be driven to the Dent de Nendaz turbined on the valley floor at Bieudron around the clock.
Built between 1953 & 1961, the dam it strategically positioned at the narrow point of the valley, making the most of the rock outcrops that resisted the glacial erosion. Six million meters cubes of concrete fill the gap to block the natural course of the Dixence river. The reservoir, known as the Lac de Dix is 5km long.
Upstream in the dry season one can still see the crown of the previous dam that was built in the 1930’s and was flooded when the water was released for the Grande Dixence dam.
The dam is masterpiece of civil engineering : 193m thick at its base reducing to 15m at the crown, following an arch 748m long.
Fed by dozens of catchments, over 100km of hand dug tunnels, transport the water from the surrounding valleys to the pumping stations.
info@dixence-resort.ch
+41 27 288 53 51 (For the sale of apartments and chalets)
+41 27 563 00 50 (For the Grands Bains d'Hérémence)
