Hydropower
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Hydropower
Water is one of the most important elements needed in order to maintain life not just in the human body but also in every living thing. Another important use of water is in the production of electric energy called hydropower. Hydropower is also called waterpower, power derived from the fall of water from a higher to a lower level, and extracted by means of waterwheels or hydraulic turbines. Waterpower is a natural resource, available wherever a sufficient volume of steady water flow exists. The development of waterpower today requires extensive construction, including storage lakes, dams, bypass canals, and the installation of large turbines and electric generating equipment. Because the development of hydroelectric power requires a large capital investment, it is often uneconomical for a region where coal or oil is cheap. The US is one of the largest producers of hydropower in the world. Many people (93 percent) believe that hydropower is important for meeting future electricity needs.
Hydropower uses the natural, hydrologic cycle to generate electricity. In this cycle, the sun drives the continuous evaporation of water from the earth's land and water surfaces...