Grande-Dixence ; A Walk on the Tallest Gravity Dam in the World

Discovering the Grande-Dixence dam, a Swiss tourist landmark.

The Grande-Dixence

A Bit of History

The Grande-Dixence is the tallest gravity dam in the world and the most massive in Europe. It stands in the Val des Dix, in the municipality of Hérémence, in Valais. Its dimensions are impressive: 285 metres high, 748 metres long and 200 metres wide at the base. It belongs to the Cleuson-Dixence hydroelectric complex, with a total capacity of 2,000 MW. This complex also includes the Cleuson dam.

Built between 1953 and 1961, the Grande-Dixence rests on a glacial rock bar. It dams the Dixence river and contains nearly six million cubic metres of concrete. The dam forms the Lac des Dix, an alpine reservoir more than 5 kilometres long. Further upstream once stood an arch dam, the old Dixence dam. Submerged when the reservoir was filled, it sometimes reappears when the lake level drops.

A Walk 285 Metres High

The Grande-Dixence ; The Lac des Dix

The Lac des Dix covers 3.65 km² and reaches 227 metres deep. It holds up to 400 million m³ of water, at an altitude of 2,365 metres. 5.3 km long, it is up to 600 metres wide. Its water arrives through several tunnels, linking Arolla and Zermatt in particular. Its catchment area covers 360 km², up to the edge of the Italian border. In total, 100 km of tunnels run through the Valais mountains. As wide as a railway tunnel, they capture more than 380 million m³ of water each year.

The Grande-Dixence ; Discovering Nature

Valais at Altitude

In midsummer, the intense heat makes you want to seek some coolness in Valais. After a pleasant drive from Lausanne, here is the dam, looking tiny against the mountains. To avoid the climb on foot, the cable car is a must. At the top, the view is splendid, under an almost cloudless sky. The beauty of nature strikes immediately. After a few photos, it is time to walk along the concrete path that runs along the dam. The surrounding calm lets you fully enjoy the views over the lake and the forest. Once the tour is over, the descent follows a path made a little difficult by the stones. A chance to photograph nature, especially the flowers and tall grasses.

The site is best visited in summer, when the cable car is running. And for another summer walk in Valais, head to the Sanetsch and the Lac de Sénin (in French).

Le Chargeur, 1987 Hérémence
Website

The Grande-Dixence