Bratskaya HPP is considered one of the largest operating stations not only in Siberia, but also in the world. In addition to the power of the station and the role it played in the development of Siberia, the history of construction, the patriotism of our parents and the era that embodied such a grandiose idea are of great interest.
A bit of history…
Bratsk begins its history in 1631. For further exploration of Transbaikalia, Bratsk Ostrog became an outpost, which was gradually built up and grew into a small village in one street, stretching along the river. Merchants and diplomats used to pass through here, explorers of the Angara region and explorers of the coastal part of the Sea of Okhotsk stocked up on food and water. And only exiles and convicts could take a closer look at this land and love it.
A little time passed, and the descendants of plowed peasants, having united in the commune "Drummer", began to build a new life. Every year the territory of collective farm lands expanded, the rumble of tractors became more audible, and livestock farms replenished with new livestock.
Start of construction
December 21, 1954, a decision was made to start construction. The Bratsk hydroelectric power station was to be commissioned by the 50th anniversary of the Great October Revolution - such was the plan of the country's top leadership. And what could result in its failure, everyone was well aware. Therefore, the construction of the dam began on a river covered with a thick layer of ice.
The Soviet leadership faced the problem of manpower. If earlier this was all solved with the help of repression and coercion, then at that moment it was decided to use the power of propaganda. As a result, hundreds of romantics and enthusiasts went to build a hydroelectric power station on the Angara. Thanks to colossal dedication, boundless devotion to the Motherland, and the genius of engineers, the station was commissioned on time.
The newly arrived builders did not expect to see such a reality. The first winters, people lived in ordinary tents at a temperature of -50 in the remote taiga, adjoining only a few small villages. There was no time to even build the simplest barracks. All forces were thrown into the construction of the station.
The Bratsk HPP required large areas, and it was decided to flood 100 villages. Nobody was interested in the opinion of the inhabitants. In pursuit of a deadline, a huge mass of building materials was thrown into the flooded area. We althy hunting farms, collective farms, residential buildings and huge forests were flooded.
Starting from July 18, 1961, the filling of the Bratsk reservoir begins, due to which the level of the dam rises by 100 meters. And December 14, 1966the start-up of the last, eighteenth unit in a row begins. At that time, the Bratsk HPP was the largest hydroelectric power plant in the world. It is still active today.
The Bratsk hydroelectric power station played a huge role in the development of Siberia, a photo of which can be seen on this page. All those spontaneous decisions that entailed rash sacrifices paid off with interest. At the moment, it is this hydroelectric power plant that makes it possible to engage in the development and extraction of minerals in this region.
