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File:Hydroelectic|thumbnail|process]]

Background Information
Name of alternative energy source: Hydro Hydro comes from the Greek word for water. Hydroelectricity is creating electricity from moving water from rivers and streams. Energy is collected, and Hydro electricity is a form of renewable source because this source uses the water cycle. Water evaporates into the air than it precipitates back to the earth and flows into bodies of water. The largest producer of hydroelectricity is China, followed by Canada, Brazil, and the United States. However many other countries use this form of energy as well.

Generation of Electricity
A generator is a device that makes it achievable to construct a steady flow of electrons at any time. An electrical generator takes energy from a non-electrical source of energy and switches it into electrical energy. In order to create energy with water, the water must be in motion (also known as kinetic energy. There is a dam and it creates a slant for the water to flow. Next there is a pipe (penstock) that transmits the water from the reservoir towards the turbine. The fast-moving water pushes the turbine blades. Which then converts kinetic energy into mechanical energy. The turbine moves the generator rotor which eventually alters this mechanical energy into a new energy form. This is electricity.

Advantages
First off, hydro electricity is a renewable resource since it uses the water cycle therefore, we do not have to worry about overexploiting the resource. We also don't have to be anxious about it going to run out and not having enough for future use. Hydro electricity helps with a later climate change and does not harm the air we breathe since it does not release any greenhouse gases and which also can help delay global warming. This creates a safer and healthier environment for humans. Although, hydroelectricity has many advantages one economically beneficial advantage is that even if the cost of building the system is high. The system pays itself off in a few years since it has a low operating and maintenance cost. In addition it lasts for generations.

Disadvantages
Hydroelectricity is not perfect, it does have some flaws. One is that although in the future the cost to get the system built would be paid off. It still costs a huge amount of money. In other words it's a high investment cost. Even if hydroelectricity doesn't release greenhouse gases it does not necessarily mean that there is zero harm to the environment. Study shows that it is possible for fish to be caught in turbines, which can cause death. This is awful since this issue could cause death of many fish or even worse cause an extinction. Besides this issue, it could change the quality of the water that it is being constructed in. It wouldn't create a massively polluted body of water, but it would not be as clean as before. Therefore, this just proves that every action has pros and cons.

Discovery of hydroelectricity
Hydropower first started from 100 B.C. when a waterwheel was used by the Greeks and Romans Milling was the major task performed by hydropower in the past, and shortly after it traveled through Asia and the rest of Europe in 4 A.D. However the very first hydro electric generating station was constructed at Chaudière falls on the Ottawa river in 1882.

Uses in the world
Everyday there are billions of people that depend on hydroelectricity. With hydroelectricity homes, factories, hospitals, offices and schools are powered. One of the first methods a developing county usually use to bring affordable electricity to rural areas is hydroelectric energy. It is also very useful since it provides jobs to maintain and to build.