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Photographer’s Note

Dam of Chisseaux, very close to the castle of Chenonceau.

Invented by the French engineer Charles Poirée, the "dam with needles" consists of a curtain of beams put vertically side by side, blocking the river. These beams - or needles - long of 2 to 4 meters, come to lean against an end stop on the bottom and on the footbridge on the top.

The shape of the needles allows the seizure. Nevertheless it is a hard, long and dangerous work (several hours and men are needed). Nowadays, those dams are replaced by more modern and automated techniques. On some of those dams, wooden needles are replaced by aluminum needles filledwith polystyrene (for the buoyancy in case of fall in the river), much less heavy and easier to handle.

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Additional Photos by Marion Tissier (marion44) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 297 W: 177 N: 784] (4258)
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