Hoover Dam's Imposing Statistics
As a testimony to human engineering, the Hoover Dam stands proudly between the borders of Nevada and Arizona. Towering at 726.4 feet and stretching 1,244 feet across at its crest, the dam's colossal structure is underpinned by a base that measures 660 feet in thickness, slimming to 45 feet at its peak. This concrete giant isn't just massive in size; it weighs a staggering 6.6 million tons.
Reservoir and Water Management
Tasked with taming the Colorado River, Hoover Dam's reservoir, Lake Mead, can capture up to 2 years of the river's average flow. Its total storage capacity is an astonishing 30,500,000 acre-feet, stretched over a surface area of 146,000 acres. At its maximum, the water surface elevation of Lake Mead soars to 1229 feet with a depth plunging down to 590 feet and a reach that spans 115 miles across the landscape.
Electric Power Generation
The Hoover Dam isn't just about water control; it's a powerhouse—literally. With a power generating capacity of 2.8 million kilowatts, this dam was built with a frugal budget of $49,000,000 back in the day, albeit the entire Boulder Canyon Project, which includes the dam, cost a total of $165,000,000, adjusted to modern standards.
Construction and Composition Facts
The dam's construct is a marvel, containing about 4,360,000 cubic yards of concrete, with its strength reinforced by 96,000,000 pounds of steel and metalwork. Despite rumours, no one is buried in the dam. Approximately 16,000 men and women contributed their labor to the project, with around 3,500 people employed at any given time during its construction.
Construction's Human Toll
The official record states that 96 'industrial' fatalities occurred during the construction of Hoover Dam, excluding other causes such as heat and heart ailments. Another estimate places the total at 112 deaths.
Milestones and Innovations
Commencing on September 30, 1930, and concluding with the last concrete pour in 1935, Hoover Dam was once the single largest masonry structure since the Great Pyramid of Giza. An intricate system of cooling tubes within the concrete expedited the curing process that otherwise would have spanned over a hundred years.
Hoover Dam's Place in History and Utility
Though now ranked as the 18th highest dam globally, Hoover Dam's significance remains undulled. It can store 9.2 trillion gallons of water and its generators have an output capacity exceeding 2000 megawatts. The dam is an integral piece of infrastructure providing vital water and electricity to over 18 million people in the Southwest.
Exploring the Valley of Fire and witnessing Mouse's Tank offers travelers a chance to marvel at both natural wonders and feats of human achievement.