Jean-Lesage Generating Station (Manic-2)
IMPORTANT – Guided tours are suspended until further notice.
Just a few minutes away from Baie-Comeau, there’s a fascinating generating station. You can explore its dam from the inside. An unforgettable experience!
- Discover Jean-Lesage Generating Station (Manic-2)
- School tours
- Visitors’ comments
- Schedule and practical information
- How to get there
- Other sights in the area
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Discover the line worker’s trade.
Watch the 360° video [in French only!]
Hydropower facility revealed
What are the main parts of a hydropower facility? You’ll find out at Jean-Lesage.
It’s one of the world’s largest gravity dams. You’ll see a 400-t rotor spinning over your head and feel the immense power of the eight generating units.
Be sure to visit the Georges Dor building to see an exhibition about the technology that revolutionized electricity transmission throughout the world.
Don’t miss it! Only 15 minutes from Baie-Comeau.
Watch the Bienvenue à la Manic video (in French only) [1 min. 36 sec.]
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Did you know?
Imposing sight
The Jean-Lesage facility has eight generating units, each weighing as much as 100 elephants.
Niagara Falls Times Two
That’s how much water rushes out through the spillway.
World first
The world’s first 735-kV line was commissioned back in 1965. It runs from the Manic-Outardes complex to Québec and Montréal.
History of the generating station
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Question from: Marc, Chibougamau
Answer from: Carolane, tour guide at Jean-Lesage generating station
How long did it take to fill the Manic-2 reservoir?
Only six months, because it is fed by two rivers, the Manicouagan and the Toulnustouc.
Question from: Katia, Rivière-du-Loup
Answer from: Alexandra, tour guide at Jean-Lesage generating station
How much water circulates through the penstocks?
The penstocks are the huge pipes that channel water from the reservoir to the turbines. There are eight of them, each carrying 202 m3 of water per second. A penstock could fill an Olympic pool in just eight seconds.
Question from: Raymond, Montréal
Answer from: Valérie, tour guide at Jean-Lesage generating station
Where does electricity from Jean-Lesage generating station go?
The transmission lines carry the electricity to Manicouagan substation, where the voltage is stepped up to 735 kV. Three high-voltage lines then travel along a corridor to Lévis substation.
Follow the guides!
Our guides know what they’re talking about. They’ve been specially trained to make sure you have a rewarding experience that meets your expectations. They’ll be delighted to tailor your tour to match the goal you have in mind and the profile of your group.
Our interactive educational tours are full of facts and most of them are fun for the entire family. Don’t be shy about asking questions: our guides are very knowledgeable. Your curiosity will be satisfied!
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School tours
School tours
Tours of Hydro-Québec generating stations and interpretation centres are an ideal way for your students to gain a very practical understanding of electricity. Our lively guides will soon get everyone interested in the history of Hydro-Québec, the different energy sources, electricity and hydropower generation.
A fun, free, educational field trip!
Schedule and practical informationMaximum number of visitors
Maximum of 120 people, including students and escorts; i.e., four groups of 30. Time interval between departures.
Supervision
These are the recommended ratios for adults accompanying groups:
- Ages 9 to 12: 1 adult for every 1 to 10 pupils
- Ages 13 to 17: 1 adult for every 1 to 20 pupils
For safety’s sake, teachers and accompanying adults must remain with their charges throughout the tour and help the guides.
Pre-visit preparation
- Educational ressources for teachers
- Understanding Electricity Web site
- Online games
Hydro-Québec offers quality teaching resources to help you explain various concepts related to electricity, such as sustainability, energy efficiency, the environment and safety.
Age-appropriate tours
Tours of Hydro-Québec facilities are an excellent complement to the Québec Education Program. They reinforce the acquisition and development of several competencies in the areas of math, science and technology, social science and more.
Broad Areas of Learning
- Environmental awareness and consumer rights and responsibilities
Areas of learning and competencies
- Science and Technology: Competency 1, 2 and 3
Essential knowledge related to competencies
- Material World: Energy, Forces and Motion, Systems and interaction, Appropriate language
- Earth and Space: Matter, Energy, Appropriate language
Broad Areas of Learning
- Personal and career planning
- Environmental awareness and consumer rights and responsibilities
Areas of learning and competencies
- Science and Technology: Competency 1, 2 and 3
- Social Sciences: Competency 1 and 2
Essential knowledge related to competencies
- Material World: Energy, Forces and Motion, Systems and interaction, Appropriate language
- Earth and Space: Energy, Appropriate language
- Knowledge related to the organization of a society in its territory: Québec society around 1980
- Knowledge related to change in a society and its territory: Québec society between 1905 and 1980
Broad Areas of Learning
- Personal and career planning
- Environmental awareness and consumer rights and responsibilities
Areas of learning and competencies
- Science and Technology: Competency 2 and 3
- Social Sciences: Competency 1
Topics
- Regional geography
- History of the Manic-Outarde complex
- Generating facility
- Hydroelectric power generation
- Tour of a turbine shaft
- Visit of the inside of the dam
Complements the following programs
- Science
- Humanities
- Engineering programs
Topics
- Regional geography
- Historique de la centrale sa construction
- Complexe Manic-Outarde
- Generating facility
- Hydroelectric power generation
- Tour of a turbine shaft
- Visit of the inside of the dam
We tailor the tour to suit your needs.
Topics
- Regional geography
- History of the Manic-Outarde complex
- Generating facility
- Hydroelectric power generation
- Tour of a turbine shaft
- Visit of the inside of the dam
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Very interesting. I learnt a lot. I’m going to recommend it to a lot of people.
Diane Dubuc, Nicolet
Once again, I’m in awe of all the work of our Québec builders and intellectuals. Excellent work, guides!
Two guides at Manic-5 generating station 20 years ago!
Very good guide, very instructive and lively tour. Thank you.
Famille Nougier, Courteuil, Picardie, France
Discovering a wonder thought up, created by human beings is a gift. A great big thank-you to everyone for their friendliness and their knowledge.
Solange Roy, Québec
An extremely interesting visit that helped us understand how a generating station works.
Francine and Pierre St-Laurent, Sherbrooke
Very, very interesting. Even better than I expected! The guides are motivated and considerate towards tourists and visitors!
Évelyne and Robert, Pierrefonds
Schedule and practical information
Schedule and practical information
Admission
Free
Summer schedule FULL
From June 7 to August 31, 2021
Daily tours (in French): 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Reservations required
Special instructions apply due the COVID‑19 pandemic.
Tours in English available using audioguides.
Length of tour
90 minutes
By appointment only.
Tip
Take advantage of your visit to Jean‑Lesage generating station (Manic‑2) to continue your trip to Manic‑5!
To visit both sites in the same day, take in the 9 a.m. tour of Manic-2 and the 1:30 p.m. or the 3:30 p.m. tour of Manic‑5.
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What you should know
ID card
Visitors aged 18 years and over must present official photo ID (medicare card, driver’s licence or passport) to tour a facility.
Clothing
Flat, closed shoes are mandatory.
Take a warm sweater, because it’s cool inside the dam, even in summer.
Free guided tours
Tours are led by qualified, dynamic guides.
Time of arrival
Tours start at set times. You should be there 15 minutes in advance.
Age
The tour is recommended for school-aged children but not for children under the age of two, for safety reasons.
Accessibility
Tours are on foot and include some stairs.
Notice to pacemaker users
The electromagnetic fields in power plants may disrupt pacemaker operation. As a precaution, pacemaker users will not be allowed during the part of the guided tour that takes place in the generating station.
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Services
- Picnic area
- Free parking
- Gift shop
- Partially accessible to persons with a physical impairment
- Restrooms
Please note that parking recreational vehicles on Hydro-Québec property overnight is forbidden. That means that neither the parking lot for the Manic-5 interpretation center nor the Daniel-Johnson lookout can be used for overnight stays.
Information
As of June 18, 2021, we will not be accepting any new reservation requests for the 2021 summer season.
Reservation forms received before June 18 will be processed and confirmations will be issued depending on the spots available.
We look forward to welcoming many more visitors in the summer of 2022!
Please note that reservations will not be taken over the phone.
1 866 LAMANIC (1 866 526-2642)
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How to get there
Other sights in the area
- Le Jardin des glaciers
- Le Parc Nature de Pointe-aux-Outardes
- Le Village Forestier d’antan de Franquelin
- Station Uapishka
To find out about other activities or plan your trip to the area, go to QuébecOriginal.com.
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Visitors’ comments
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