Here is your travel guide, coming to you today from Boulder City, and Hoover Dam.
Samuel asked me the other day how tall Hoover Dam is. I thought I would post a few photos, and add a few facts for Sam and Will, Ben & Calvin. Maybe it can be your history lesson for the day guys!
This is the actual concrete structure of Hoover Dam. It is 726 feet high, made of concrete. It was started in 1932, in the middle of the Great Depression, and finished two years ahead of schedule in 1935. At that time, it was the largest concrete project in the world. You might want to ask Great Grandma Bethel and Great Grandpa Larry if they remember when it was finished. It was built to contain the mighty Colorado River, (the same river that carved out the Grand Canyon.) The dam produces over 2000 megawatts of power from water. During the years of construction they had a daily crew of about 3500 workers, and 140 men died during the construction.
Hoover Dam also served as the highway connector between Arizona and Nevada, having a two lane highway across the top. Now due to security issues, a new bridge has been constructed across the Colorado. It's a 4-lane highway, 1,900 feet long and 890 feet above the Colorado River. If you would like to see some additional photos and info click here:
The insurance man has been eager to try out this new bridge, and it is an amazing feat once again. It is the 2nd highest bridge in the United States and the world's tallest concrete columns.
These photos show the Colorado River as it enters Hoover Dam, and the river as it leaves the Dam as Lake Mead, named after the engineer of Hoover Dam. The nearby town of Boulder City sprung up during the years of construction to house the workers and planners.
Hoover Dam and the new bridge (called the Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge) are both wedged between the massive rock cliffs of Black Canyon, in a very barren area of desert. Lake Mead made all the difference in this area. If you want to know more of the difference water made to make 'the desert bloom', just Google it.
As amazing and awe inspiring as Hoover Dam and the new bridge are, I think the mightiest feat was God's in creating this canyon, carved by the Colorado River. Man can and does do some wonderful things, but it will never match the majesty of God's creation.
1 comment:
Thanks Grammy. That's cool!
Sam and Will
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