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Rising from a spring high on the Labrador plateau, the Churchill River plunges 75m into the McLean Canyon as the Churchill Falls , about 300km west of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, as part of a 335-metre descent within a 26-kilometre stretch. In order to exploit the massive power of this tumult, an area three and a half times the size of Lake Ontario was dammed for the incredible Churchill Falls hydroelectric development, a project conceived by the premier, Joey Smallwood, in 1952 as part of a drive to save Newfoundland's economy, whose only industrial plant at that time was a small copper mine on the northeast coast. Wrangling with possible US backers and then with the Quebec government delayed its commencement until 1967, when a workforce of thirty thousand finally began the largest civil engineering project in North America. The town of CHURCHILL FALLS is simply an outgrowth of the power plant; if you want to stay here for a long look at the falls - which are half as high again as Niagara - accommodation and food are available at the Churchill Falls Inn (tel 925-3211 or 1-800/229-3269; $80-100). Tours of the plant are offered daily (9am, 1pm & 7pm; 2hr-2hr 30min; free; for further information, call the Churchill Falls Inn ).
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