Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam is located on the border of Arizona and Nevada and was constructed on the Colorado River in Black Canyon between years1930 and 1936. It is famous for being the highest concrete arch dam in the United States at 726 feet high (221 meters) and 1,244 feet long (379 meters) at the crest, and is famous for supplying water and power to Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix and other rapidly growing cities in the Southwest.
Lake Mead is created by the dam, which extends for 115 miles (185 km) upstream and is one of the largest artificial lakes in the world. The dam is used for flood and silt control, hydroelectric power, agricultural irrigation, and domestic water supply. It is also a major sightseeing destination, with some seven million visitors a year, almost one million of whom go on tours through the dam.
History of Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam is named after the former U.S. president Herbert Hoover who was in office during the years that construction began on the dam (1929–1933). His work as commerce secretary in the 1920s secured agreements necessary for the project to proceed. The dam was built during the Great Depression and was able to create jobs for over 21,000 workers. It had become a symbol of economic progress and hope during these difficult times. The original name of the dam was Boulder Dam, but in 1947 Truman signed a congressional resolution restoring the structure’s formal name to Hoover Dam for official use.
Current Water Issues in the Southwest
85+ years after its completion in 1935, the infrastructure at Hoover Dam continues to retain water and generate electricity for nearby states. But the rules for managing the river and dividing up its water were created in the 1922 Colorado River Compact, which has been modified over the years and is now facing the greatest strains since the dam was built.
The effects of years of severe drought and temperatures pushed higher by climate change are strikingly visible along Lake Mead’s retreating shorelines and waters are at a historic low. Since 2000, the water level in the reservoir, which is the largest in the country, has dropped almost 150 feet. Lake Mead is now less than 35% full and is headed for a first-ever official shortage since it was filled. Increased drought conditions combined with the river's severe overuse threaten the water supplies of cities and farmlands, also revealing how the system of managing and use of water in the desert Southwest is unsustainable.
RECOMMENDED HOOVER DAM TOURS
Self-Guided Driving Tour of Hoover Dam from Las Vegas
Family-Friendly | Additional Tour Options Available | Self-Guided
Arizona Private Tours
Family-Friendly | Custom Options Available | Leaves from Flagstaff | Multi-Attraction Tours
Small-Group Grand Canyon West Rim Day Trip from Las Vegas with Optional Skywalk
Hotel Pickup | Breakfast Included | Professionally Guided | Leaves from Las Vegas
Small-Group 3 Hour Hoover Dam Mini Tour With Las Vegas Strip Pickup
Visit Hoover Dam on a Las Vegas "mini" tour that doesn't take up a whole day so you don't waste your precious vacation time. Or, perhaps you have a late flight and want to do something fun after hotel check-out. After departing the Strip, head to the dam, where you visit lookout points … More
Visit Hoover Dam on a Las Vegas "mini" tour that doesn't take up a whole day so you don't waste your precious vacation time. Or, perhaps you have a late flight and want to do something fun after hotel check-out. After departing the Strip, head to the dam, where you visit lookout points for views and photo ops.
- Visit Hoover Dam on a tour designed for those short on time
- Round-trip transport provided from the Las Vegas Strip
- Travel by small-group vehicle
- See the dam, Colorado River, and Lake Mead from different angles
Family-Friendly | Leaves from Las Vegas
Grand Canyon West Rim Bus or Private Tour with Hoover Dam
Private Tours Available | Professionally Guided | Hotel Pickup | Breakfast Included | Lunch Included | Leaves from Las Vegas | Family-Friendly
Grand Canyon West Rim Bus Tour & Hoover Dam Photo Stop with optional Skywalk
Leaves from Las Vegas | Breakfast Included | Lunch Included | Multi-Attraction Tours
Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam Small Group Day Tour
Hotel Pickup | Lunch Included | Professionally Guided | Family-Friendly | Leaves from Las Vegas
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