Largest run-of-the-river hydroelectric power station

The Chief Joseph Dam on the Columbia River in north-central Washington state, USA, is the world's largest run-of-the-river hydroelectric power station, in which most of the water passes straight through the dam and without any protracted impediment. Within the 71-m-high and 1,800-m-long concrete construction, 27 Francis turbines have a capacity of 2.62GW, which is more than enough to power the nearby city Seattle. Although the gravity dam does create a reservoir of around 636 million m³ capacity, the water flowing to Chief Joseph Dam is still passed downstream at approximately the same speed, hence ensuring its run-of-the-river status. Constructed and operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers for US$145 million between 1949 and 1956, after the Grand Coulee Dam it is also the second largest hydropower-producing dam in the USA. Originally named after its location on Foster Creek, the dam was later renamed in honour of the American Indian Chief Joseph (1840–1904), one of the best known leaders of the Nez Percé tribe. Chief Joseph was especially renowned for resisting the U.S. Government's attempts to force his tribe onto reservations. Faced with losing tribal lands in Oregon, Joseph led his tribe in a dramatic effort to escape to Canada. After eventual defeat, Joseph and others were allowed to settle in the Pacific Northwest, miles away from their true homeland in the Wallowa Valley. He died on the Colville Indian Reservation.