About the Hydroelectric Process
For thousands of years, people have used the energy produced by moving water to perform tasks such as grinding grain and sawing wood. The hydroelectric tour explores the history of hydropower, and also explains how hydropower plants take advantage of a naturally occurring, continuous process that involves the cycling of water through the environment, known as the hydrologic cycle, to convert the potential energy from flowing water into electrical energy.

About the Virtual Tour
Start your tour by selecting any of the numbered icons to view specific operations and examine each phase at your own pace. Select Grand Tour to view the tour start to finish.

For clarification of terms used in the tour, view our Glossary of Terms.


About the Hydroelectric Process
For thousands of years, people have used the energy produced by moving water to perform tasks such as grinding grain and sawing wood. The hydroelectric tour explores the history of hydropower, and also explains how hydropower plants take advantage of a naturally occurring, continuous process that involves the cycling of water through the environment, known as the hydrologic cycle, to convert the potential energy from flowing water into electrical energy.

About the Virtual Tour
Start your tour by selecting any of the numbered icons to view specific operations and examine each phase at your own pace. Or simply select Grand Tour to view the tour start to finish. Enjoy your tour.

If you need clarification of some of the terms used in the tour, please see our Glossary of Terms.

Learn about the history of hydroelectric energy and how the energy produced by moving water has been captured to produce electricity. Learn how hydroelectric power can effect the environment. Learn about various types of water turbines. Discover the methods used to harness water power. Learn how water is used to generate electricity. Learn about the hydrologic cycle. Learn about the history of hydroelectric energy.