Hydro-Québec invites you to make free electrifying discoveries!

Let yourself be mesmerized by the Daniel-Johnson dam (Manic-5), the largest multiple-arch-and-buttress dam in the world. Bridging the magnificent Manicouagan valley, its unique design is a true monument to Quebec engineering. Whether you’re standing at the foot of the dam, inside it or on the crest, there are plenty of thrills in store! Take a trip back in time to the 1960s when the Manic-5 jobsite was in full swing.

Visiting the Robert-Bourassa Facility is the chance to explore the largest underground power plant in the world, carved 140 metres deep. Take the James Bay road, admire the northern landscapes and drive right to the source of energy. Discover the sheer immensity of Hydro-Québec’s structures, look up at a towering dam as tall as a 53-storey building, and marvel at the “giant’s staircase.”

Visiting the Première-Chute generating station is a chance to discover the story of the electrification of the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region. It’s a great family activity that is free and informative. You’ll discover a generating station with a unique design on a guided tour.

Visit Îles-de-la-Madeleine Generating Station, the largest diesel-powered thermal generating station in Québec. The Îles-de-la-Madeleine have always relied on fuel oil to meet the energy needs of its population of 13,000 people. During your guided tour, you’ll learn how oil is harnessed to generate enough power to light homes and businesses.

Located on the border of Québec and Ontario, the Carillon generating station is the most powerful generating station on the Rivière des Outaouais (Ottawa River). It is also the first generating station built by a team of French-speaking engineers, back in the 1960s. Erected near the historic site of the battle of Dollard des Ormeaux, this facility is sure to impress you with its sheer size.

The Rivière-des-Prairies generating station has stood proudly between the Montréal and Laval banks since the 1930s. Learn about this run-of-river facility and the introduction of electricity in the Montréal region. Then, follow your guide to the turbine pit and spillway. You’re sure to be impressed by the water’s raw power.

Do you know the Beauharnois generating station, one of the world’s largest hydropower facilities? You will be impressed by its 36 generating units which, lined up over almost a kilometre, make it one of Hydro-Québec's most powerful run-of-river plants. Discover this monument of human genius, a jewel of Quebec heritage, and its magnificent Art Deco architecture.

Want to have fun with your family while learning? At the Électrium, in Sainte-Julie, you will live unusual experiences. Observe the electric eel or enjoy a hair-raising experience with the Van de Graaff generator! Playful and interactive exhibits, dynamic guides and short videos teach you more about electricity and its production in Quebec.

In the heart of the city of Gatineau, discover a jewel in the history of the Outaouais: the Rapides-Farmer generating station, in service since 1927. Your tour will reveal the secrets of a river that was first used to transport lumber, then for the production of hydroelectricity. You will be able to go right inside a generating unit and look straight up to admire a 160-tonne rotor in action!

In Havre-Saint-Pierre, discover the Romaine-1 generating station! Go under a penstock and feel the power of water used to generate electricity. View unique images of a rotor being installed and gain a better understanding of how hydropower works. Drive over the dam, contemplate the reservoir and admire the breathtaking view of the valley. Walk around on the dam, admire Romaine-1 reservoir and enjoy the stunning view of the valley.

The Jean-Lesage generating station and one of the world’s largest hollow-joint gravity dams and is located in the Côte-Nord region only 20 minutes from Baie-Comeau! During your visit you’ll see a 400-tonne rotor spinning (at 120 rpm!) right over your head. Be sure to also visit the Georges Dor building to see an exhibition about 735-kV transmission lines, the technology that revolutionized electricity transmission around the world.

Cross the taiga and visit the last power station to turbine the water of the Grande Rivière before flowing into James Bay. Made up of 640,000 cubic meters of concrete, the amount needed to build a sidewalk from Montreal to Miami, this run-of-river power plant will impress you with its transmission shafts whose diameter exceeds 2 meters. You’ll be amazed to see how well it blends in with the natural environment.