With its massive size, Hoover Dam became one of the major attractions in Las Vegas. Located at South Nevada, the dam collects some of the fresh water from Colorado River which runs between Nevada and Arizona. There is enough river water to create two great lakes namely Lake Mead and Lake Mohave.
The Hoover Dam To Grand Canyon provides precious water and clean energy to Sin City including Las Vegas Hotels, shops, and restaurants. In fact, the engineers deployed seventeen hydroelectric power turbines on the main power station. The turbines generate 4.2 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy.
In 1900, the engineers looked at Black and Boulder Canyon to develop a dam to control the floods, irrigate the farmlands, provide some water, and produce the hydroelectricity. Hence, the dam was once called Boulder Dam. Later, the dam was named in respect of President Herbert Hoover.
In 1928, the Congress gave the go ahead signal to start the construction of the massive dam. After a few years of planning, the project started in 1931 which coincided with the Great Depression. Thousands of workers worked diligently with the ambitious project. Sadly, the project claimed more than one hundred lives. Amazingly, the Six Companies who build the dam finished the project in March 1, 1936. That is two years ahead of schedule.
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Many hailed the dam as one of the greatest engineering feats of all time. The dam stands seven hundred twenty-six feet and covers one thousand two hundred forty-four feet in length. The structure uses a concrete arch-gravity principle. The dam curves upstream in a narrowing curve that directs the weight of the water to push down with the gravitational force.
If you are planning to go to Hoover Dam Half Day Tour, there are two ways to get to the dam from your Las Vegas Hotels. From the North of Las Vegas, you head north on I-15. Turn right on US 93/95. Prepare to look for Spaghetti Bowl Interchange. Get on Phoenix.
From South of Las Vegas, you head south on I-15. After you pass the Mandalay Bay, you head south on 215. Take the turnoff on Henderson and McCarran Airport.
The freeway will take you out of Las Vegas through the Railroad Pass. It is pretty close to the Boulder City. From the city, you can follow the signs and go on first turn to Hoover Dam.
