Scotland has loads of Hydro Elecric schemes and Loch Rannoch has it's share. Decided one day to bike up the forestry roads and visit one of the smaller water catchments. At the top of the track there was a boggy path which went on towards an aqueduct. I didn't take any pictures of the mud.
Eventually I found the dam that diverted water into the aquaduct.
Just a few metres along the way was one of last year's antlers hanging onto the mud. On the downhill side the soft muddy bank was reinforced by wooden stakes.
At the end of my small aqueduct the water joined some much bigger sources of water which arrived through tunnels [ Hydro info. ] The tunnelers in the main were made up from British, Polish, Czechs, German and Italian former prisoners of war, and other Europeans. Their nickname - "The Tunnel Tigers".
The aquaduct contours into the building from the right hand side of the picture - as I did on a mountain bike.
The end result is the contribution to the 'National Grid'. The water in the background went off to the next dam and turbines, to generate more electricity.
That antler is wonderful! Now how does the hydro electric thing work (your link doesn't work)? Is it creating leccy whilst running down those tubes, then the water is let out into the lake at the bottom? Is the building some kind of mini power station?
ReplyDeleteI like the antler too - not sure why ??? as it's not exactly exciting. :)
DeleteI tested the link while I was writing it, but you're right, it doesn't work now. I'll try to fix it.
The buildings contain turbines. The head of water (height above the turbine) provides the water pressure and the turbines whizz round creating the leccy. So yes, mini power stations.
Link fixed (for me anyway).
DeleteYup, it works, thanks!
DeleteWow, this looks almost surreal :-)
ReplyDeleteSplendid compositions, making the most of the lines in a very creative way, and I love the DoF in picture #2!
The antler adds the perfect touch of mystery :-)))
Pleased you enjoyed the backwoods of Rannoch Marie-Hélène :)
DeleteThe line of posts was meant to 'pop out' with the in-focus ones pulling the eye in. I visualised it much better than it turned out :)))
Surreal pipes are fun. :)))
Seem to have missed this one :-) A 45MW power station is not that small!
ReplyDeleteLove the antler and its reflection in the water too! Such a new and mysterious sight to me!
And that stake Dof picture surely has it all! Thanks for the informative ride, Nick!
As I've mentioned before Jan, I miss loads but it's nice to wander around later and find things. Mildly surprising that we all like the antler.
DeleteFun to show you the more out of the way bits of Scotland.