Beyond Vegas!!! A visit to Hoover Dam

Updated on November 03, 2021 06:18 AM by Anthony Christian

The Hoover Dam sits wedged into the black canyon, holding back the force of the mighty Colorado River on the Nevada- Arizona border. Do you know that? The Dam built in just five years. It is also called Boulder Dam. That wouldn't happen nowadays.

This Dam was constructed to prevent flooding in the area, help with irrigation in the desert, and generate hydroelectricity. Nearly one million people visit this Dam. I’m so glad to discuss the Hoover Dam. Let we go.

Hoover Dam Wasn't Always Called Hoover Dam

When surveyors were looking for a place to build Hoover Dam, they suggested Boulder Canyon, just upriver from the Dam's current position. As a result, the Dam's construction team dubbed it Boulder Dam. The name lasted even when the building site was shifted to Black Canyon, and the Dam was still known as Boulder Dam.

So, how did it get its name, Hoover Dam? Construction on a train route that would end at the dam site began in September 1930. During the line's groundbreaking ceremony, it was revealed that the new Dam would be named after Herbert Hoover, the president at the time.

Lake Mead Water Levels

Have you seen the Sparking blue water? If by no means, please go and visit this lake. Lake Mead is also a popular spot for boating, fishing, and swimming. It became America's first national recreation area in164. It's more than just a recreation area and a national park.It was constructed for various purposes, one of which was to provide water to the rising population.

Boulder City was established as a result of the Hoover Dam's construction

You may be surprised to learn that Boulder City, Nevada, did not exist before the construction of the Hoover Dam. The city was constructed exclusively to house the 5,000 laborers employed to construct the Dam in 1930.

Boulder City was built on federal territory, and there was no mayor or other elected officials on the ground. Surprisingly, the entire city was overseen by a US Bureau of Reclamation staffer. This individual had the authority to impose rules as he deemed fit. Some of Boulder City's early laws outright prohibited gambling and alcohol drinking. The federal government did not relinquish the authority of Boulder City until 1960, thirty years after the city was first built.

It was previously the world's tallest dam

When it was constructed in the 1930s, Hoover Dam was the world's highest Dam, 726.4 feet tall. It is now the second-highest dam in the United States, overtaken in 1968 by the 770-foot-high Oroville Dam in Northern California. The Jinping-I Dam in Liangshan, Sichuan, China, stands at 1,001 feet tall and is the world's tallest dam.

From 1939 through 1949, the power facility at Hoover Dam was the world's largest hydroelectric station. It has a capacity of 2,080 megawatts (MW) and produces roughly 4 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of hydroelectric electricity each year for homes and businesses in Nevada, Arizona, and California.

No one was buried alive in concrete

One company could not afford to build the dam. As a result, they intended to build the dam using six businesses. A small number of Native Americans have been hired as high scalars, who will use jackhammers and explosives to remove loose rock from the canyon walls. Contrary to common belief, no workers were buried alive while the concrete for the Dam was being poured.

German Bomb Plot

The dam was the target of a German bomb plot during WWII.

In November 1939, with World War II raging, American officials learned of a rumored conspiracy by German operatives to attack Hoover Dam by putting bombs at the intake towers to cut off electricity to Southern California's aviation manufacturing industry. Private boats were barred in the Black Canyon once American authorities learned of the plot, and stronger regulations for dam staff and tourists were imposed, as well as a range of other security measures such as physical barriers and enhanced illumination. The dam was closed to tourists for the rest of the war after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. Although the dam had its police force, the Army deployed some personnel to assist with its security.

Dam Construction started during a heatwave

The construction began in April 1931. The average daily temperature reached 119 degrees Fahrenheit by June, barely two months after construction began. What are the effects on the workers? Is that correct? Yes, the temperature ranges from 130 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. Heatstroke struck many of the workers multiple times. There have been 96 deaths on building sites as a result of accidents. In addition, 42 workers are said to have perished due to illnesses contracted during the construction of the Dam.

Hoover Dam tours from Las Vegas

Hoover Dam is undeniably one of America's wonders and

truly an engineering marvel. The Dam is now a major tourist destination as well as a working power facility. It provides breathtaking views and fascinating information, and about 7 million people visit the Dam each year to take selfies and marvel at its beauty. What's even better? The sparkle and glam of Las Vegas are only a short drive away from Hoover Dam. Along the journey, you'll get the opportunity to see Lake Mead, the spectacular "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign, and other fantastic photo opportunities. Hope this will help you to know some interesting facts about Hoover Dam.