Verzasca Hydroelectric Plant, Switzerland

A movie dam. This is how the Contra Dam can be defined, part of the larger Verzasca Hydroelectric Plant, in the Canton of Ticino, Switzerland. The structure was indeed the setting for the famous opening scene of one of the 007 movie, “Goldeneye”, in which James Bond jumps into the void from the top of the dam.

Built between 1961 and 1965, with its 220 meters, it is the fourth tallest dam in Switzerland. Its construction required 400,000 m³ of excavations and 700,000 m³ of concrete. The crest length is about 380 meters. The project is completed by a hydroelectric power plant consisting of 3 Francis turbines, with an annual energy production of 220 GWh.