Hoover Dam
The day will come when I finish writing and compile all the posts about the USA—cities, landmarks, and national parks. But I have a feeling that day isn’t coming anytime soon, so for now, I’ll continue in the form of travel notes.
Today, it’s about the Hoover Dam. I’ll share some photos, a bit of history and interesting facts, and also give tips on the best spots for taking pictures.
Location and How to Get There
The Hoover Dam is located 48 km southeast of Las Vegas, on the border between Nevada and Arizona. You literally cross the dam and find yourself in a different time zone.
We drove there in a rental car (rented here) from Las Vegas to Flagstaff (to see the Grand Canyon), stopping at the dam along the way. If you don’t have a car, the dam can be visited on a tour from Vegas.
Walking around the dam and the observation decks is free. We spent about an hour and a half there.
You know me — I can’t just show photos, but long texts aren’t really my thing either. So I’ve put together the most important and interesting things you need to know about the dam.
History
Construction began in 1931 and was completed in 1936, two years ahead of schedule. It was a monumental achievement, as the dam was built during the height of the Great Depression and provided jobs for thousands of people, which was a crucial boost for the regional economy.
The dam was named after Herbert Hoover, the 31st President of the United States, who played a key role in making the project happen.
How the Dam Works
The principle behind Hoover Dam, like any other dam, is very simple: it blocks the Colorado River, creating a reservoir where water accumulates. When the water in the reservoir reaches a certain level, part of it is directed through special channels to turbines. Driven by gravity, the water spins the turbine blades, generating electricity. Afterward, the water continues flowing down the river, but in a controlled amount. This way, the dam helps store water, prevent flooding, and produce electricity.
Around Hoover Dam, there is a major hydroelectric power station built directly into the dam itself. This station is one of the largest hydroelectric plants in the United States and consists of 17 generators: 9 on the Arizona side and 8 on the Nevada side.
The Hoover Dam power plant provides energy for approximately 1.3 million homes or apartments every year. That’s enough to supply major cities like Las Vegas, which gets a significant portion of its electricity from this station.
Interesting Facts About Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam stands 221 meters tall and was the tallest dam in the world at the time of its completion. Today, it ranks 20th in height among all dams worldwide. The tallest is the Nurek Dam in Tajikistan at 300 meters, followed by the Xiaowan Dam in China at 292 meters, and the Grande Dixence Dam in Switzerland at 285 meters.
The amount of concrete used to build the dam would have been enough to construct two highways from San Francisco to New York.
The dam’s construction created the largest reservoir in the United States — Lake Mead.
Hoover Dam has been featured in several movies. For example, in the first Transformers film, the dam was used as a secret storage site hiding the AllSpark cube.
Best Spots for Photos of Hoover Dam
Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge — this is a road bridge located just downstream from the dam. It offers a fantastic panoramic view of the entire dam. There’s a designated pedestrian area for taking photos from above. At the beginning of this post, you can see a photo of the bridge and the view from it.
Observation Decks on the Dam — walking along the top of the dam gives you great shots of the dam itself, as well as Lake Mead and the Colorado River.
Observation Deck on the Arizona Side — after crossing the dam into Arizona, you’ll find several viewing platforms. From here, you get excellent views of the dam from a lower perspective, and you can also take great shots along the length of the dam.
