Hoover Dam, once called the Boulder Dam, is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River on the border between the states of Nevada and Arizona. The Hoover Dam has been an engineering marvel and a tourist attraction for over 85 years. But there’s so much to this dam that most people don’t know, besides its impressive size and capacity. Here are ten surprising Hoover Dam facts that you need to know.
1. It’s All About the Concrete
The Hoover Dam is made of over 3.25 million cubic yards of concrete, which could pave a two-lane highway from San Francisco to New York. The concrete in the dam is still continuing to compress and harden, meaning that it’s only getting stronger with time.
2. It’s a Powerhouse
The electricity generated from Hoover Dam’s generators can power around 1.3 million homes. That’s enough energy to power the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego combined.
3. There’s a Tourist Trap
Around 1 million people visit the dam each year, and it’s considered one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world. Tourists take in its size, architecture, and the breathtaking views of the Colorado River.
4. It’s a Desert Oasis
Lake Mead, the reservoir behind the Hoover Dam, was once the largest man-made lake worldwide. The lake provides a crucial water source for both Arizona and Nevada and is a hotspot for water sports enthusiasts.
5. Your Car Could Be a Dam-Souvenir
The Hoover Dam was built in three and a half years, from 1931 to 1936, and during that period, 96 workers died. Nevertheless, there’s a token of their memory as a part of the original concrete used for the dam is at the souvenir shop found at the dam’s foot. People can purchase miniature Hoover Dam replicas, as well as ‘bullet pens,’ which are made of extraordinary old dynamite casings and copper bullet shells.
6. Numbers Don’t Lie
The Hoover Dam is over 700 feet tall, 1,224 feet long, and 660 feet wide at the base. To construct such a monumental structure, the builders channeled the Colorado River through two tunnels and divided the entire dam construction into blocks that were built simultaneously.
7. It Saved Lives – Literally
A symbol of the perfect fusion between engineering and social responsibility, the Hoover Dam protects millions of inhabitants in California, Nevada, and Arizona by preventing floods and storing water for irrigation.
8. It’s a Familiar Hollywood Star
Hoover Dam has made appearances in scores of Hollywood films, including the Transformers series, Superman, Transformers, and San Andreas.
9. It Has Unseen Scientific Ramifications
The dam’s weight is so immense that it’s set off earthquakes without people feeling the tremors. Such events could occur when workers maintenance the turbines and detach the weight of the water from the dam.
10. Nature Comes a Knocking
Wildlife is a staple in the Hoover Dam area. Visitors will see a variety of flora, fauna, and animal life thriving in the surrounding arid environment. Some of the wildlife hotspots include the National Park’s Black Canyon and Lake Mead.
In conclusion, the Hoover Dam is a marvel of engineering prowess, a historical monument, and a global tourist destination. It remains a treasure trove of technological innovation and will continue to be one of the most famous industrial landmarks in the world.
