GC2699E Cliff Dam (Traditional Cache) in Ulster, Ireland created by murphy-r

This cache has been archived.

Inishanier: Hi,

There has been no response from the cache owner so I'm Archiving this cache.

It may be possible to reactivate this cache. If you wish to do so please contact me via my profile and quote the Geocaching.com ID for the cache so I know which one you are referring to.

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Many thanks,

Graham

Inishanier - Volunteer Reviewer for Geocaching.com (Ireland)

GC2699E ▼

A cache by murphy-r Message this owner

Hidden : 4/6/2010

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

Erne hydro-electric scheme - Cache 3. Cliff dam, located just outside Belleek on the River Erne

The ESB began work on the hydro-electric development on the river Erne in 1946, this involved the erection of two dams. One known as Cliff Station and another at Ballyshannon known as Cathaleens Fall station. The dam at cliff is well hidden away and basically unknown. Cathaleens Fall station is not so hidden and is in full view from Ballyshannon.

Cathaleens Fall
Cathaleens Fall has twoturbo-alternator sets, each with an output of 22.5MW, under a head of 29 metres of water. ESB commissioned these in 1951 and 1952. A 400kW generator supplies power for auxiliaries. Before this dam was built, Assaroe Falls (Irish: Eas Aoidh Ruadh, English: the waterfall of Red Hugh), also known as Cathaleens Falls, was a waterfall on the River Erne near Ballyshannon. It was named after Aodh Ruadh, who according to tradition, slipped and fell from the waterfall and drowned.

View of Cathaleens Fall from Ballyshannon by-pass bridge

Cliff Dam
Cliff dam has two turbo-alternator sets, each with an output of 10MW, under a head of 12 metres of water. ESB brought them into service in 1950 and 1955. A 300kW generator supplies power for auxiliaries and local needs.

view of Cliff dam

Both alternator sets generate at 10.5 Kilovolts. Each set is connected to its own step-up transformer in an outdoor compound at the Cathaleens Fall station. Through these, the electricity produced is fed into the National Grid.

Assaroe Lake
Assaroe Lake is a 1,100-acre artificial lake created by the Cathaleen falls and Cliff Hydro schemes and is controlled by the ESB. This is a good fishing lake, permit necessary from ESB, boats can be used with permission from ESB but not near the dams.

Belleek Channel
To improve water control in the catchment, the 6km long Belleek Channel was enlarged through excavation and locks were constructed at Enniskillen.

The cache. Parking is available on he road side just past the entrance to the cache location. The ESB have provided a small path for fishing. Step over the stile then over the bridge, follow the path and you will soon hear the hum from the transformers. The cache itself is quite large but there is only room inside for log and pencil. Walk past the cache location and the dam comes into full view.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

gjb 99'f cyrnfr.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)