What are some interesting facts about the Hoover Dam?
Interesting Facts About the Hoover Dam
- The Numbers. This massive concrete structure measures an impressive 726 feet in height and 600 feet in thickness at its base.
- Concrete and Construction. The dam was constructed with about 4.4 million cubic yards of concrete. ...
- Notoriety. There are several reasons that the Hoover Dam is so well-known today. ...
What is Hoover Dam and facts about it?
It still has some amazing stats that emphasize the scale on which this structure was built:
- Height: 221.4 meters (726.4 feet)
- Length: 379 meters (1,244 feet)
- Width at the base: 200 meters (660 feet)
- Width at the top: 14 meters (45 feet)
- Concrete Volume: 2,480,000 cubic meters (3,250,000 cubic yards)
- Installed capacity: 2,080 MW
What are the statistics of the Hoover Dam?
Hoover Dam Statistics - Hoover Facts. 726.4 feet high (221 m) 1,244 feet wide (379 m) 660 feet (203 m) thick at the base. 45 feet (13 m) thick at the top. $165 million dollars to build. 4.5 years to build. 4.4 million yards of concrete used for construction. March 1931 building began.
What is the purpose of the Hoover Dam?
Purpose of the Hoover Dam
- Irrigation. Before the dam was built, the southwest had several areas where farming was impossible due to the lack of water.
- Water Supply. The authorities also hoped the dam could provide a more reliable supply of water for towns and cities than had been possible before its construction.
- Flood Control. ...
- Hydroelectric Power. ...
Why is the Hoover Dam in Nevada?
Hoover Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the U.S. states of Nevada and Arizona....Hoover DamOfficial nameHoover DamLocationClark County, Nevada/Mohave County, Arizona, U.S.PurposePower, flood control, water storage, regulation, recreation56 more rows
Where is the Hoover Dam located exactly?
Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, spanning the Arizona-Nevada state line, are located in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River about 35 miles southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. It is a concrete thick-arch structure, 726.4 feet high and 1,244 feet long.
Why is the Hoover Dam named after Hoover?
However, on September 17, 1930, at a ceremony in Nevada to mark the start of construction on a railroad line to the dam site, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ray Lyman Wilbur announced the dam would be named for his boss, President Herbert Hoover, who had been inaugurated in 1929.
How long is the Hoover Dam expected to last?
While the dam is expected to last for centuries, engineers predict the structure could last for more than 10,000 years, surpassing most remnants of human civilization if humans were to disappear from the earth. However, they also predict the dam's turbines without human intervention would shut down within two years.
What is the biggest dam in the world?
Three Gorges Dam, China is the world's largest hydroelectric facility. Accroding to Wikimedia, the Three Gorges Dam is a hydroelectric gravity dam that spans the Yangtze River by the town of Sandouping, in Yiling District, Yichang, Hubei province, China.
Is Lake Mead drying up?
Lake Mead is shrinking But, as of July 31, 2022, Lake Mead's water level has dropped to 1,040.92 feet (317.3 meters), continuing a 22-year downward trend. The retreating lake is revealing things hidden underwater for decades.
Is there a door in the middle of the Hoover Dam?
Clark opened a door and nearly launched himself off the dam. In reality, that door actually goes to a bathroom. As for the rumor about bodies being buried in the concrete. “Not at all,” Hendrickson said.
Has the Hoover Dam paid for itself?
The $140-million mortgage, a loan from the U.S. Treasury, to build Hoover Dam will be paid in full today. Residential and industrial users of electricity have been paying back the government $5.4 million a year at 3% interest over the last 50 years as part of their monthly utility bills.
Why does water defy gravity at Hoover Dam?
According to reports, the structure of the dam creates such a hugely powerful updraft that the air pushes things back against gravity. The dam is shaped like a bow. This structure is the main reason for this unique phenomenon where even the water is pushed upwards by the air.
What happens if Lake Mead runs out?
A future in which Lake Mead declines so much that water could no longer pass through Hoover Dam would mark a large-scale crisis for the entire Southwest. In addition, there would be cascading ecological impacts across a watershed that has already been significantly manipulated and a river that rarely reaches its delta.
Will Lake Mead ever fill up again?
The last 20 years suggest that Lake Mead and Lake Powell will be unlikely to refill once they drain. We've had more than twice the number of years where the Colorado River flowed less than 10 million acre-feet since 2000 than we did in the last century, according to data presented by climate researcher Brad Udall.
Can Lake Mead ever recover?
Because once the lakes hit these dangerously low levels, it's unlikely that they will ever recover. Wet years in the 1990s and 2000s did not refill the lakes – it simply kept them from going lower. With climate change, it's highly unlikely that we'll get years of wetter than normal conditions.
How far is Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon from Las Vegas?
The Hoover Dam is on the way to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas. The world-famous gravity-arch dam straddles the Nevada-Arizona border. It is located approximately 40 miles from the heart of Las Vegas, 95 miles from the Grand Canyon West, and 240 miles from Grand Canyon National Park.
Is Hoover Dam the largest dam in the world?
Currently, the tallest dam in the world is Nurek Dam on the Vakhsh River in Tajikistan. It is 984 feet (300 meters) tall. Hoover Dam is 726.4 feet (221.3 meters) tall. Today, Hoover Dam still ranks in the top 20 of the tallest dams in the world, but only in the concrete gravity and arch categories.
Can you visit Hoover Dam without taking the tour?
Tours and Visitor Center availability is 9 AM to 5 PM. How Much: It's FREE to walk or drive across Hoover Dam and the Colorado River Bridge. However, there is a charge for parking, the visitor center and tours: $10 for parking.
Is the Hoover Dam worth seeing?
This National Landmark is a testament to the will, determination, and sheer willpower of the American People! Standing at a towering 726 feet high and 1,244 feet long, The Hoover Dam's size can only be appreciated by seeing it in person. Just like the Grand Canyon, photos just don't do it justice.
What was the Hoover Dam called?
In honor of the new president’s contributions, Secretary of the Interior Ray L. Wilbur announced the structure would be called Hoover Dam at a 1930 dedication ceremony, though the name didn’t become official until 1947.
How many people contributed to the construction of the Hoover Dam?
Altogether, some 21,000 workers contributed to its construction. Hoover Dam fulfilled the goal of disseminating the one-wild Colorado River through the parched Southwest landscape, fueling the development of such major cities as Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Phoenix.
What was the purpose of the Hoover Dam?
Bureau of Reclamation devised plans for a massive dam on the Arizona-Nevada border to tame the Colorado River and provide water and hydroelectric power for the developing Southwest.
How much concrete was used to build the tallest dam in the world?
Approximately 5 million barrels of cement and 45 million pounds of reinforcement steel had gone into what was then the tallest dam in the world, its 6.6 million tons of concrete enough to pave a road from San Francisco to New York City. Altogether, some 21,000 workers contributed to its construction.
How many people visit Lake Mead?
The dam was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1985 and one of America’s Seven Modern Civil Engineering Wonders in 1994. It receives some 7 million visitors annually, while Lake Mead, the world’s largest reservoir, hosts another 10 million as a popular recreation area.
When was the Colorado River dam built?
The largest dam in the world at the time of its completion in 1935 , this National Historic Landmark stores enough water in Lake Mead to irrigate 2 million acres and serves as a popular tourist destination. At the turn of the 20th century, farmers sought to divert the Colorado River to budding Southwestern communities via a series of canals.
When was Lake Mead completed?
With the body of water that would become Lake Mead already beginning to swell behind the dam, the final block of concrete was poured and topped off at 726 feet above the canyon floor in 1935. On September 30, a crowd of 20,000 people watched President Franklin Roosevelt commemorate the magnificent structure’s completion.
How does the Hoover Dam affect the water supply?
The Hoover Dam stores water that irrigates 2 million acres of farm fields, generates enough power to supply 1.3 million people, holds back floodwaters, and stores water for times of drought. In 1905 a catastrophic flooding of Colorado ran wild for months destroying homes, crops, damaging highways, and created the Salton Sea.
How far is Hoover Dam from Las Vegas?
Today the Hoover Dam is a major tourist attraction and a great outing for those visiting Las Vegas (it is only around 30 miles out of Las Vegas).
How much does a guided tour of the Dam cost?
Guided Dam Tour: $30.00 Per Person, See Historic Tunnels, Rides The Original Elevator In The Dam, Walk Through Inspection Tunnels In The Center Of the Dam
What river was tamed to power the Grand Canyon?
It is a testament to man's ability to tame nature. The Colorado River was tamed and its water harnessed for electricity generation. This after all is the river that gouged out the mighty Grand Canyon.
What is the largest reservoir in the USA?
Lake Mead: The Largest Reservoir In The USA when Full (By Volume)
When was the Boulder Dam renamed?
Naming: It Was Renamed Boulder Dam During the Roosevelt Administration (It Reverted to Hoover Dam In 1947
Where to visit engineering?
For those interested in the marvels of engineering there are plenty of impressive feats of engineering to visit across the United States. There is the massive Arch Gateway monument in St. Louis, the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco that is also worth the visit. Another is the Hoover Dam on the border between Nevada and Arizona.
How tall is the Hoover Dam?
Topping out at 726 feet above the Canyon floor and stretching 1,244 feet across Black Canyon, the Hoover Dam was the tallest dam in the world when it opened in the 1930s. The Hoover Dam is an “arch-gravity” dam, which means it’s thicker at the bottom (660 feet thick, to be exact) and thinner at the top (where it’s only 45 feet thick).
How many people visit the Hoover Dam?
But more than one million people visit the Hoover Dam each year, and once you see the gracefully sloping concrete curve of the dam, it’s pretty clear why the Hoover Dam is such a big deal.
How much water does Lake Mead hold?
Lake Mead. Enough said. Lake Mead is the nation’s largest – and arguably most picturesque – reservoir, covering 248 square miles and capable of holding 28.9 million acre-feet of water.
What are the best places to visit in Colorado?
5. It’s got great photo ops. 1 The Colorado River Bridge: Officially called the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, this shapely structure is the longest single-span concrete arch bridge in the Western hemisphere. 2 Lake Mead: Turn to the northeast for stunning vistas of picturesque Lake Mead, then turn around and prepare yourself for the sheer concrete drop of the Dam on the other side. The downstream side of the Dam is best viewed from the air, but it’s impressive from any viewpoint. 3 Winged Figures of the Republic: These unique sculptures are some of the largest monumental bronze structures ever cast in the United States – the shells alone contain more than four tons of statuary bronze! According to the artist, the winged figures express “the immutable calm of intellectual resolution, and the enormous power of trained physical strength, equally enthroned in placid triumph of scientific accomplishment”. You can’t miss them. 4 Vintage charm: Art deco-inspired motifs featuring Native American images of animals, plants, and climactic events decorate the Dam’s many towers and spillways.
Where is the Hoover Dam?
The Hoover Dam straddles the Nevada-Arizona border. If you’re thinking about taking a Grand Canyon tour, your tour will pass by the Hoover Dam along the way. If you’re driving yourself to the Grand Canyon, consider stopping for a photo or even hop on a guided tour through the inside of the Dam.
Where is Death Valley in the Southwest?
To the west you’ll find Death Valley – home to hottest recorded temperatures and the lowest point of elevation in North America – and to the east lies the incomparable majesty of the Grand Canyon, but one of the Southwest’s most impressive man-made sights is just a few miles to the southeast of Vegas – the Hoover Dam.
What does the winged figure represent?
According to the artist, the winged figures express “the immutable calm of intellectual resolution, and the enormous power of trained physical strength, equally enthroned in placid triumph of scientific accomplishment”. You can’t miss them.
Why was the Hoover Dam important?
Also, the creation of the Hoover and other dams prevents the water from flowing into Mexico, so the area where it used to flow is de prived of the lush environment that used to exist on the river’s banks. Overall, the Hoover Dam was an extremely beneficial engineering project and is the main proponent behind the growth of ...
What is the difference between a gravity dam and a dam?
The arch structure of the dam redirects the water pressure to the walls of the canyon and typically requires less material than other types of dams, whereas a gravity dam utilizes its sheer size to combat the constant pressure applied to its walls. The main benefit of a gravity dam is its simplicity of design and construction process.
What is the significance of the Hoover Dam?
The Hoover Dam and its Importance. The Hoover Dam, originally titled the Boulder Dam, is located on the Colorado River in Black Canyon sits between two states: Arizona and Nevada. At the time of its construction, which began in 1930 and was completed in 1935, the Hoover Dam was the largest electric-power generating site ...
How did the Hoover Dam benefit society?
Shea. By the end of its construction, the Hoover Dam project had provided roughly 21,000 men with jobs and cost about $50 million in terms of 1931 dollars, but would have cost around $690 million in 2008. The fact that the dam project created so many jobs was extremely beneficial to society because many men had lost their jobs to the great depression. Also, the promise of jobs attracted people out to the western area where the Hoover Dam is located, promoting the economic and social growth of that region. Today the tourists who come to see the dam supplement this process; they continue to provide an additional benefit of incoming profit, which ultimately benefits the surrounding area. Throughout the dam’s construction, an estimated 96 men died on the job.
What are the benefits of gravity dams?
The main benefit of a gravity dam is its simplicity of design and construction process. The combination of these two types of dams into the Hoover Dam’s structure has been extremely effective in displacing the water pressure of the Colorado River since it completion. The Hoover Dam is very successful in accomplishing the jobs it was initially built ...
How much did the Hoover Dam cost?
By the end of its construction, the Hoover Dam project had provided roughly 21,000 men with jobs and cost about $50 million in terms of 1931 dollars, but would have cost around $690 million in 2008. The fact that the dam project created so many jobs was extremely beneficial to society because many men had lost their jobs to the great depression.
How many generators are there at Hoover Dam?
Also, at the base of the Hoover Dam sit 17 generators, each of which could “produce up to 3 million horsepower and provide electricity for three states” (History.com). One drawback to the dam is the drop in temperature of the water, which has resulted in the extinction of multiple species of fish.
What was the name of the dam that was under construction?
In the years that followed, whether one called the under-construction dam “Hoover” or “Boulder” was often an indication of political party. Sure enough, when President Roosevelt dedicated the nearly completed dam on this day, Sept. 30, in 1935, he was sure to refer to it in his speech as the Boulder Dam. Moreover, Roosevelt used the occasion to advance his own very un-Hoover program of public works. “Obviously, for instance, this great Boulder Dam warrants universal approval because it will prevent floods and flood damage, because it will irrigate thousands of acres of tillable land and because it will generate electricity to run the wheels of many factories and illuminate countless homes,” TIME quoted the president as saying. “But can we say that a five-foot brushwood dam across the head waters of an arroyo, and costing only a millionth part of Boulder Dam, is an undesirable project or a waste of money?”
Why was the Boulder Dam named after Hoover?
Tradition at the time called for naming a project for the law that made it possible, which meant that America’s most impressive feat of engineering was called the Boulder Dam, after the Boulder Canyon Project Act. Bills to rename it for Hoover failed in both 1929 and 1930. And in 1933, when Hoover left the White House and the Democrat Franklin Roosevelt moved in, the new administration declared that the proper name would be used exclusively.
When did Hoover's dam get renamed?
Bills to rename it for Hoover failed in both 1929 and 1930. And in 1933, when Hoover left the White House and the Democrat Franklin Roosevelt moved in, the new administration declared that the proper name would be used exclusively. In the years that followed, whether one called the under-construction dam “Hoover” or “Boulder” was often an ...
Who started the Hoover Dam?
I t should have been easy enough: in September of 1930, as Secretary of the Interior Ray Lyman Wilbur formally initiated construction on a major Colorado River dam, he proclaimed the following: “I have the honor to name this dam after a great engineer, who really started this greatest project of all time—the Hoover Dam!”.
