We spent a lot of time paralleling rivers. Today it’s the Columbia. We passed some dams, including this one. There are 27 main generators plus two smaller ones to supply power to the powerhouse itself.
From the dam overlook’s sign:
Chief Joseph Dam is the second largest electricity-producing dam in the United States and the nation’s longest straight-line Powerhouse. Its 27 turbines can generate up to $1 million worth of power a day, enough to serve the Seattle metropolitan area. The unique shape allows the powerhouse to take maximum advantage of the river’s flow. The dam is named for the renowned leader of the Nez Perce tribe’s Wallawa Band.
