Barrage De Tignes
The barrage of Tignes is 180 m high, including 20 m deep foundations. It was decorated by J.M. Pierret, who designed a 12,000 sq. m fresco called Le Géant on the external side of the vault. The artifical lake of Chevril has a maximum volume of 230,000,000 cubic m. The cumulated height of the waterfall is 1,000 m. Water moves turbines in the plant of Brévières (154,000,000 kWh per year) and is then sent down through a 15 km gallery to the plant of Malgovert (750,000,000 kWh per year).
Every 10 years the flood gates are opened and Lake Chevril is
emptied. It is not surprising that the amount of silt builds up
considerably and
effects the performance output of the electricity generating station. The silt
is
cleaned away, the dam thoroughly checked and repair work carried out as necessary
before it is refilled again. During this period the old buildings of Tignes
reappear as if by magic and memories of the original inhabitants are re-kindled.
The new village of Tignes was built 6 km from the ancient one near the (natural)
lake of Tignes. The village church was built on the model of the former one.