Colossal Hoover Dam Covering The Largest Reservoir in The United States!

Colossal Hoover Dam Covering The Largest Reservoir in The United States!

Hidden in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, the Hoover Dam features the marvel of engineering and human resourcefulness in the early 20th century. After its final touch in 1935, this enormous construction was recognized as the highest dam in the world. As the gatekeeper of Lake Mead, the colossal Hoover Dam covers the largest reservoir in the United States!

Hoover Dam not only symbolizes technology and manpower in America but also plays a significant role in water management and power generation. Nevertheless, lake Mead attracts about seven million visitors a year, making it at the top of the sightseeing list. But the construction of this came at a cost. 96 people died at the dam site and the reasons for their deaths were classified as “industrial fatalities.“Let’s explore the story of this colossal giant which continues to fascinate the world.

An Engineering Marvel

A concrete arch-gravity dam was constructed in the Black Canyon, during the Great Depression, between 1931 and 1936, on the border between Nevada and Arizona. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the dam to the public on September 30, 1935. It was referred to as the Hoover Dam to honor President Herbert Hoover.

Image source: Hoover Dam (The Rarely Seen Back Of The Hoover Dam Before It Was Filled With Water, 1936)

The project came with jobs for thousands during the scare time of the Great Depression. The construction of the Hoover Dam, which is 726 feet (221 meters) tall and 1,244 feet (379 meters) wide, used almost 4,400,000 cubic yards (3,360,000 cubic meters) of concrete. The dam can handle the pressure of water that flows over Niagara Falls with each spillway designed to let floodwaters pass.

Image source: Viator (view from the Arizona side showing the pen-stock towers and the Nevada-side spillway entrance)

Lake Mead: America’s Largest Reservoir

Lake Mead is one of the largest artificial lakes in the world extending 115 miles (185 km). Across Nevada, Arizona, and California this serves as a major water body source. Lake Mead is also popular for activities such as boating, fishing, and hiking. Its swinging water levels are also linked to the climate patterns and water usage in the American Southwest.

Lake Mead – the reservoir has seen altering water levels in recent years due to drought and will likely decline again this summer – Source: bloodua/Getty
Image source: Brittanica

Hoover Dam deaths: Remembering the human cost

Every great construction was built upon the corpses of its workers. Building such a mighty structure presented unparalleled challenges to the engineers of the Bureau of Reclamation.

It stretched the abilities of claiming the lives of 96 of the 21,000 men who worked on it. These 96 fatalities were due to on-site industrial accidents. Mainly, Pneumonia as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning brought on by the use of gasoline-fueled vehicles in the diversion tunnels. Others died on site from drowning, blasting, falling rocks or slides, falls from the canyon walls, being struck by heavy equipment, truck accidents, etc

Memorial at the dam which reads in part “They died to make the desert bloom.” – Source: NortyNort
Image source: PBS / Bechtel / Hoover Dam Bureau of Reclamation / BCMHA (Honoring the men behind and their true hard work in the construction of the Hoover Dam)

Colossal Hoover Dam empowering nations!

Apart from conquering the Colorado River, this incredible man-made is a source of hydroelectric power that benefits millions. 17 turbines generating up to 2,080 megawatts of electricity, to supply power across the region. Also, it made a major contribution to minimizing greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.

Additionally, the dam serves as a useful source of domestic water supply, hydroelectric power, agricultural irrigation, and flood and silt management. It protects southern California and Arizona from the famous Colorado disastrous floods. It supplies water and power to Los Angeles and other rapidly growing cities in the Southwest.

Inside the Hoover Dam – Source: TripSavvy / Taylor McIntyre

Conclusion

Hoover Dam remains an icon of American innovation and resilience until today. Its construction outdid the expected outcome not only marking the engineering history but also transforming the landscape and economy of the American Southwest. The way this colossal Hoover Dam covers the largest reservoir in the United States empowers the nation and is a fine reminder of what can be achieved through vision, determination, and collaboration. Its legacy will continue for generations to come.

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