8 Fun Facts about Hoover Dam

Largest Manmade Reservoir

Hoover Dam was constructed in the 1930s. It spans the Colorado River in Black Canyon between Arizona and Nevada and is the largest manmade reservoir in the United States.

Hoover Dam’s foundation relies on gravity to keep the entire structure from collapsing. Due to this, it is technically considered a concrete arch-gravity retaining wall.

Originally known as Boulder Dam, Hoover Dam was renamed in 1947 in honor of Herbert Hoover. As the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and the 31st U.S. President, Hoover significantly influenced the creation of the dam.

The primary purpose of the dam is to generate electricity. This service began on September 12, 1936. The Hoover Dam electric generating plant produces enough electricity to meet the power needs for over a million people.

Hoover Dam rises 726 feet and is 1,200 feet wide at its crest. It's made from 3.25 million tons of concrete and weighs more than 6.5 million tons. The dam was built using 215 interlocking blocks.

Hoover Dam was constructed in 5 years. In total, 21,000 men labored on the dam. The average total payroll for the construction was $500,000 per month.

During construction, the Colorado River had to be diverted. Tunnels had to be bored through both cliff faces in order to draw off water from the site. The largest tunnel was three miles long.

Recreation Another purpose of Hoover Dam is to provide tourism in the surrounding areas by creating substantial outdoor recreation opportunities. For example, tourists and residents visit Lake Mead for boating, swimming, and fishing.

Recreation Scenic is the largest and most experienced aerial tour operator in the world. Over 10 million customers have visited the Grand Canyon and other National Parks with Scenic. The tours allow visitors from around the world to experience the beauty of the Southwest. Scenic offers over 20 unique and customizable tours that range from several hours to overnight to several days.

Phone: 1-800-634-6801 Website: http://www.scenic.com

Sources http://traveltips.usatoday.com/hoover-dam-4890.html