Hoover Dam

     Las Vegas is a great starting off point for day trips.  We spent a day at Hoover Dam.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoover_Dam


This is what you see when you drive toward the dam. 

The white line indictes the previous high water level.  They've had a long, dry spell.

Cars had to drive on top of the dam to get from Nevada to Arizona before the new bridge or by-pass was built.

The new bridge gets you around the dam if you are not a visiting tourist.  It's not scary to drive over because it has side walls that are high enough to block the view.

The generation of electricity was a secondary plan.  They built the dam primarily to obtain water to make a dry area habitable.  Production of electricity has paid for the dam's construction, provides a free power source for the dam, and continues to provide electric power to consumers.

Even if the power is free, you should turn out the lights when you leave.



     A visit to the dam is a feast for the eyes.  The surrounding terrain is beautiful.  The dam structure is magnificent.  They also designed the inside to impress.

Andrew True was responsible for the Southwest Indian designs on the floors.  Photo from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation website.

The brass elevator doors are luxurious.
Image posted on panoramio.com by crapshooter.