The Cochrane Dam is a large hydro-electric power plant located in the Northwest corner of Shoreside Vale in the 3D Universe version of Liberty City. The Cochrane Dam appears in three games; Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto Advance, and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories.
Description[]
The dam is one of Shoreside Vale's most recognizable landmarks. A road runs along the top of the dam, linking the two halves of Shoreside Vale, two intake towers are connected to the top of the dam via walkways, and the lower section of the dam includes the generator building and several shipping containers. The lower section is accessible via a one-land track. An M-16 spawns at the dam's helipad. A Shotgun spawns somewhere near the generator building.
Influence[]
There is no large hydroelectric dam in New York. The nearest hydroelectric dam to New York is the Niagara Falls Power Plant, but the Cochrane Dam is larger and shares little resemblance to it. The Cochrane Dam shares structural similarities with the Hoover Dam on the Nevada/Arizona border, most notably the twin intake towers. The lower and mid levels of the Cochrane Dam resemble the Itaipu Dam on the Paraná River in South America, located on the border between Brazil and Paraguay.
Prominent Appearances in Missions[]
Grand Theft Auto III[]
- The Exchange - The dam is featured prominently in the final story mission, The Exchange, in which the main protagonist, Claude, kills dozens of Colombian Cartel, well armed gang members, and their leader and main antagonist Catalina in a showdown on the lower level of the dam.
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories[]
- Dead Reckoning - Toni is sent by Salvatore to kill Paulie Sindacco, who is on a boat at the dock near the generator building at Cochrane Dam.
- The Shoreside Redemption - The police convoy transporting Salvatore is heading to the road located on top of the Cochrane Dam. However, the Sicilian Mafia has set up a roadblock to kill him, forcing the police officers in the Securicar to take an alternative route to the courthouse.
Gallery[]
Pickups[]
Grand Theft Auto III[]
Weapons[]
- Shotgun – At the base of the Cochrane Dam power house, near the road loop, on a metal ledge on the east side.
- Sniper Rifle – In the trees along the path to the base of the Cochrane Dam from the main entrance, near Cedar Grove.
- M16 – Near the top of the stairs for the west dam platform (not the top of the Cochrane Dam power house) at the base of the Cochrane Dam.
Health[]
- Behind a ramp and some containers near the east lower entrance of the dam, near the Sniper Rifle pickup.
- To the north, in front of the eastern dam dome.
- In the south at the base of the dam, on the walkway in front of the red and white building, close to the shotgun pickup.
Trivia[]
- The roadway across the top of the dam, despite having heavy traffic, is rendered more like a pathway than a standard road, and vehicles often have to swerve to avoid pedestrians strolling along the same route.
- The dam was named after Adam Cochrane, who worked as a 3D artist during the production of Grand Theft Auto III.
- The dam was smaller in the beta version of GTA III.
- It is possible to drive up the walls of the dam, but only with a fast car such as the Stinger or with a Patriot.
- In Grand Theft Auto Advance, the dam is just a bridge, and has the same design as the Shoreside Vale Arch Bridge. However, the UI still refers it as a dam.