along with the Bieudron Power Station. By the time the Cleuson-Dixence Complex was complete, the power generated had more than doubled. A short documentary film, Opération béton, was made about the dam's construction by Jean-Luc Godard as first-time director. Characteristics The Grande Dixence Dam is a high, long concrete gravity dam. The dam is wide at its base and wide at its crest. The dam's crest reaches an altitude of . The dam structure contains approximately of concrete. To secure the dam to the surrounding foundation, a grout curtain surrounds the dam, reaching a depth of and extending on each side of the valley. Although the dam is situated on the relatively small Dixence, water supplied from other rivers and streams is pumped by the Z’Mutt, Stafel, Ferpècle and Arolla pumping stations. The pumping stations transport the water through of tunnels into Lac des Dix. Water from the high Cleuson Dam, located to the northwest, is also transported from its reservoir, the Lac de Cleuson. Three penstocks transport water from Lac des Dix to the Chandoline, Fionnay, Nendaz and Bieudron power stations, before being discharged into the Rhône below. All the pumping stations, power stations and dams form the Cleuson-Dixence Complex. Although the complex operates with water being pumped from one reservoir to another, it does not technically qualify as a pumped-storage scheme. Most of the water comes from glaciers melting during the summer. The lake is usually at full capacity by late September, and empties during the winter, eventually reaching its lowest point around April. Power stations Chandoline Power Station The Chandoline Power Station was the power station for the original Dixence Dam. The Grande Dixence Dam submerged the original dam but the power station still operates with water received from the reservoir of the Grande Dixence Dam, Lac des Dix. The power station is the smallest of the four, producing from five Pelton turbines with a gross head of . Fionnay Power Station The Fionnay Power Station receives water from the Grande Dixence Dam by a long tunnel with an average gradient of 10%. Once the tunnel reaches a surge chamber at Louvie in Bagnes, it turns into a penstock which descends at a gradient of 73% for until it reaches the power station. The water, now flowing at a maximum rate of spins six Pelton turbines, generating a combined maximum capacity of . Nendaz Power Station After