Fontana Dam features two concrete tunnels designed to funnel water from the reservoir above to the Little Tennessee River below when there is more water in the reservoir than can be used for electricity generation.
According to the Tennessee Valley Authority, "The water leaves these tunnels with such velocity, about 95 miles per hour, that concrete aprons were constructed inside the spillway to deflect the water into the air, thus avoiding erosion near the base of the dam. When water is released through these tunnels, it shoots about 150 feet into the air and re-enters the river with a crash about 400 feet downstream."
More ZDNet Photo Galleries
SmartPlanet
- Thought-provoking progressive ideas on diverse topics that intersect with technology, business, and life, and matter to the world at large. Visit SmartPlanet
- More from IBM
-
- How to Drive Better Business Outcomes with Exceptional Web Experiences Download the eBook
- Driving Business Agility through SOA Connectivity & Integration Read the White Paper from IBM
- Linking Decisions and Information for Organizational Performance Read the Tom Davenport study
