Hoover Dam, once known as Boulder Dam, is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the US states of Arizona and Nevada. It was constructed between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression, and was dedicated on September 30, 1935, by President Franklin Roosevelt. Its construction was the result of a massive effort involving thousands of workers, and cost over one hundred lives. Since about 1900, the Black Canyon and nearby Boulder Canyon had been investigated for their potential to support a dam that would control floods, provide irrigation water and produce hydroelectric power. In 1928, Congress authorized the project. The winning bid to build the dam was submitted by a consortium called Six Companies, Inc., which began construction on the dam in early 1931. Such a large concrete structure had never been built before, and some of the techniques were unproven. The torrid summer weather and the lack of facilities near the site also presented difficulties. Nevertheless, Six Companies turned over the dam to the federal government on March 1, 1936, more than two years ahead of schedule. Hoover Dam impounds Lake Mead, and is located near Boulder City, Nevada, a municipality originally constructed for workers on the construction project, about 25 mi (40 km) southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. The dam's generators provide power for public and private utilities in Nevada, Arizona, and California. Hoover Dam is a major tourist attraction; nearly a million people tour the dam each year. Heavily-travelled U.S. 93 ran along the dam's crest until October 2010, when the Hoover Dam Bypass opened. Hoover Dam - Only 30 miles south of Las Vegas is one of mans greatest architectural achievements and one of the most popular landmarks visited by Las Vegas visitors. Still in operation since the 30's supplying electrical power to Nevada, Arizona and California, Hoover Dam is truly a wonder to see. Visitors can actually go into the depths of the dam and tour the inner workings. Or you can peer over the edge of the nearly 800 foot drop while standing in two time zones at once! A nearby museum shows movies and artifacts involving it's creation. The beautiful new Hoover Dam Visitors Center, at the edge of the dam, opened in September 95 and ironically enough cost much more to build than the dam itself did 60 years ago. Nearly a million people a year begin their Hoover Dam tours at the Visitor Center, a tri-level glass and concrete building that seems to grow out of the rose-colored rock on the Nevada side of Black Canyon. Whether you take a tour of the dam or not, you will want to spend some time at the Visitor Center itself. On the first-floor Theater Level, maps, photos, and a 10-minute film describe Hoover Dam�s contributions to the developing West as well as the tremendous feat of engineering that created the dam. On the next level, the Exhibit Gallery houses audio, visual and interactive exhibits, including a full-scale model of the huge buckets used to convey concrete during the dam�s construction. One display offers a walk-through model of a hydroelectric turbine generator, and another depicts a detailed diorama of the dam. You can test your skills at managing power generation and conserving energy in several interactive displays. A three-dimensional map of the Colorado River basin explains the river�s watershed and the distribution of the water and power. Visitors also will learn about the Bureau of Reclamation, the federal agency that maintains Hoover Dam. You�ll want to have your camera ready when you visit the top-floor Observation Level, which has open and enclosed viewing areas. Magnificent panoramas of Lake Mead, the dam, and the river can be seen from the outside deck, and an audio presentation gives facts about the dam and its surroundings. Inside you�ll find a model of the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge, now under construction, and a sculpture that depicts the benefits that Hoover Dam gives to the Colorado River basin states. The Visitor Center entrance fee is $8 per person, ages 0-3, free. The center is open daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. except Thanksgiving and Christmas. After the Mike O�Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge bypass opens this fall, construction workers will complete a parking lot and walking trail leading to the bridge. Visitors will be able to learn about Hoover Dam at an interpretive plaza and follow the pedestrian walkway on the bridge to view the vastness of the dam and Lake Mead behind it. The original roadway across the top of dam will be closed to trucks and through traffic. Located in Southern Nevada and Northern Arizona, Lake Mead, Nevada represents a meeting of three desert ecosystems: The Mojave Desert, The Great Basin Desert and The Sonoran Desert. Lake Mead Nevada is composed of five basins which are capable of storing close to two years of water flow from the Colorado River. If you're looking for things to do in Vegas that let you spend some time outdoors, this is a great option for a day trip from the city. Lake Mead, Nevada gets its name from Elwood Mead, who was the commissioner of the United States Bureau of Reclamation during the construction of the famous Boulder Canyon Project, which would eventually be called the Hoover Dam. The history of the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead are intrinsically linked, since Lake Mead was the first of the four lakes that was built on the Colorado River when the Hoover Dam was constructed. Many tourists in this area visit the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead on the same trip. A great way to visit the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead is to take one of the Lake Mead cruises. Lake Mead, Nevada is also a popular recreational area for boaters, swimmers, fishermen as well as sunbathers. Hikers and photographers enjoy the desert environment of the Lake Mead Nevada area. If you are interested in wildlife, Lake Mead Nevada has a diverse variety of plant and animal life. Over 240 different types of birds inhabit the area. There are also over 55 types of mammals that call the Lake Mead, Nevada region their home. However, since most of them only come out during the evening, you may not see them on your day time hikes. If you would like to go fishing on Lake Mead, you must carry a valid fishing license. If your fishing license is for Arizona, and you plan to fish from a boat or other craft on Lake Mead, you must have a "use stamp" from Nevada. A trout stamp is required in addition to any other use stamps if you wish to catch and keep trout when you are fishing on Lake Mead. When you are fishing on Lake Mead, you are likely to catch largemouth bass, striped bass, channel catfish, crappie, and bluegill. Lake Mead is also famous for its huge stripped and largemouth bass. Different fish can be caught in different seasons. December though February are excellent for crappie, stripers and bass. In March through May, you will find stripers, bass and bluegill. In June through August, bass, catfish and bluegill fishing is at their best. However, there is still decent striper fishing at 30 feet. From September through November, stripers can be found in shallow water. Bass fishing in Lake Mead will be good until the end of October. Crappie fishing in Lake Mead usually picks up as the water cools. Construction began in 1931 and Hoover Dam was completed in 1936. It still stands tall as an engineering marvel high above the Colorado River between Arizona and Nevada. Hoover Dam attracts over 7 million visitors from around the new world every year feeding vast tourism into the Las Vegas Nevada and Arizona economy. The building of Hoover Dam took the brilliance of over 200 engineers to pull-off what many deemed as almost impossible. And it was the fortitude of over 7,000 dam workers that endured amazingly harsh conditions and extreme dangers to complete Hoover Dam almost two years ahead of schedule. Read more about �Men, Women and Children of Hoover Dam�. The mission of Hoover Dam was multi-purpose. Flooding along the Colorado River as it made its way to the Gulf of California had to be controlled. The water-flow had to be harnessed to provide much needed water to the fertile, yet arid agricultural areas of California and Arizona. And hydroelectric energy was to satisfy the requirements of millions and millions of people in adjacent regions. A scenic by-product of Hoover Dam is the gigantic reservoir of Lake Mead, a stunningly beautiful water recreation wonderland. This boating, sailing, fishing and house-boating paradise attracts over 10 million visitors a year. Lake Mead covers 550 miles of majestic shoreline and 247 square miles of area which is twice the size of Rhode Island. Its capacity of 1 1/4 trillion cubic feet of water would cover the entire state of Pennsylvania one foot deep. But, back to Hoover Dam itself which is 726 feet tall and 1,244 feet long. At its base, Hoover Dam is 660 feet thick which is 60 feet longer than two football fields laid end-to-end. Combined with its top thickness of 45 feet, there is enough concrete (4.5 million cubic yards) in Hoover Dam to build a two-lane highway from Seattle Washington to Miami Florida. Or imagine a four-foot wide sidewalk around Earth at its equator. An often asked question is how Hoover Dam can withstand the massive pressure and weight of Lake Mead which is constantly trying to flow down river to the Gulf of California. It�s answered briefly this way. Hoover Dam curves against Lake Mead and is fortified against the massive rock walls of Black Canyon. When the water compresses against the curved walls of Hoover Dam, the canyon walls push-back counteracting the awesome power of Lake Mead. This massive, but unseen, action squeezes the concrete arch together creating the mind-boggling strength of Hoover Dam. Read more about the construction of Hoover Dam. Hoover Dam is only about 35 miles from Las Vegas Nevada making it a popular tourist destination of those visiting the casinos and nightlife that never sleeps. Over 20,000 vehicles a day cross Hoover Dam between Arizona and Nevada. Thousands from around the world take the Hoover Dam tour and ride the elevator down into the inner-workings of the dam. Hoover Dam offers ample parking in strategically located scenic areas overlooking the spectacular views across Hoover Dam to Lake Mead and the Colorado River through Black Canyon. Food, refreshments and tour guides make the visit even more enjoyable. There is an abundance of fine hotels, budget motels and nearby casino hotels and resorts. Boat rentals and houseboat rentals area available at Lake Mead marinas and helicopter tours are an excellent way to experience the beauty of the entire area. And, be on the lookout for the rare Mountain Sheep that inhabit the mountainous canyons. The Hoover Dam Visitor Center: The Hoover Dam Visitor Center is open every day of the year except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The facility opens at 9:00 AM, and the first tour departs at 8:35 AM. The last tour departs at 4:10 PM and the facility closes at 5:00 PM. Hoover Dam is located 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas on US Highway 93. From Las Vegas go southeast on Interstate 515 that will turn into US Highway 93. Continue on Highway 93 until you reach the dam. A 400 vehicle parking garage is adjacent to the Visitor Center. The parking garage charges a $7.00 fee to park. Hoover Dam experiences thousands of visitors each day. This can create a shortage of parking spaces during the summer, holidays and weekends; therefore taking a bus tour from Las Vegas is recommended. Hoover Dam Power Plant Tour: The new Power Plant Tour is also included with this admission price. In addition to the Exhibit Hall you will have a lectured presentation by professional guides and the access to the Visitor's Center, the indoor and outdoor observation decks and a trip to the generator room via one of the dam's elevators. NOTE: The Guided Tour should NOT be taken by anyone who suffers from claustrophobia or those with a pacemaker or defibrillators. The tour will be in confined spaces and around generators emitting electromagnetic frequencies. To Get There: Drive Yourself to the Hoover Dam: The Hoover Dam Visitor Center is open every day of the year except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The facility opens at 9:00 AM, and the first tour departs at 8:35 AM. The last tour departs at 4:10 PM and the facility closes at 5:00 PM. Hoover Dam is located 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas on US Highway 93. From Las Vegas go southeast on Interstate 515 that will turn into US Highway 93. Continue on Highway 93 until you reach the dam. A 400 vehicle parking garage is adjacent to the Visitor Center. The parking garage charges a $7.00 fee to park. Hoover Dam experiences thousands of visitors each day. This can create a shortage of parking spaces during the summer, holidays and weekends; therefore taking a bus tour from Las Vegas is recommended.

If you are planning to visit Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead, Arizona & Nevada. And if you are coming from outside of Arizona or Nevada, you could fly into the McCarran International Airport (IATA: LAS, ICAO: KLAS, FAA LID: LAS); which is the principal commercial airport serving Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada, United States. The airport is located five miles (8 km) south of the central business district of Las Vegas, in the unincorporated area of Paradise in Clark County. And then rent a car. If you are planning to visit Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead, Arizona & Nevada. And if you are coming from outside of Arizona or Nevada, you could fly into the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) and then rent a car and drive to the Dam. There are many hotels and motels in the area. We have some links to Priceline.com on this page since they can arrange all of your air flights, hotels and car. In addition, visitors to the lake, may need to purchase some outdoor gear, boating equipment, or fishing gear. We have some links to BoatersWorld.com on this page since they are a good online source for both boating equipment, and fishing gear. We also have some links to Altrec.com on this page since they are a good online source for any outdoor camping gear and clothing that you may need. We of course, appreciate your use of the advertising on our pages, since it helps us to keep our pages active.

More Of Our Hoover Dam Pictures

105 Lb. Wrench. Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Arizona & Nevada.	Overhead Cableway Section. Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Arizona & Nevada.
181 Lb. Coupling Bolt. Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Arizona & Nevada.	Tunnel Inside Hoover Dam Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Arizona & Nevada.
Tunnel Inside Hoover Dam Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Arizona & Nevada.	Tunnel Inside Hoover Dam Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Arizona & Nevada.
Tunnel Inside Hoover Dam Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Arizona & Nevada.	Tunnel Inside Hoover Dam Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Arizona & Nevada.
Tunnel Inside Hoover Dam Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Arizona & Nevada.	Eve DeLange At Tunnel Inside Hoover Dam Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Arizona & Nevada.
Giant Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Near Intake Arizona Side.	Giant Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Near Intake Arizona Side.
Giant Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Near Intake Arizona Side.	Giant Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Near Intake Arizona Side.
Giant Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus Photo Courtesy Of: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.	Giant Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus Photo Courtesy Of: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Generator Room. Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Arizona & Nevada.	Generator Room. Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Arizona & Nevada.
Generator Room. Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Arizona & Nevada.	Generator Room. Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Arizona & Nevada.
Boat Tours Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Arizona & Nevada.	Boat Tours Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Arizona & Nevada.
Outside View Of Generator Rooms. Arizona Side On Left. Has 9 Generators. Nevada Side On Right Has 8 Generators Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Arizona & Nevada.	Outside View Of Generator Rooms. Arizona Side On Left. Has 9 Generators. Nevada Side On Right Has 8 Generators Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Arizona & Nevada.
Nevada Intake Tower. Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Arizona & Nevada.	Arizona Intake Tower. Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Arizona & Nevada.
Nevada Intake Towers. Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Arizona & Nevada.	Nevada Intake Towers. Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Arizona & Nevada.
Arizona Intake Towers. Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Arizona & Nevada.	Arizona Intake Towers. Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Arizona & Nevada.
Lake Mead From Hoover Dam Arizona & Nevada. White Area Is Older Water Level.	Lake Mead From Hoover Dam Arizona & Nevada. White Area Is Older Water Level.
Eve DeLange At Dedication Monument By Norwegian-American Sculptor Oskar J.W. Hansen. Arizona & Nevada.	Plaque To Honor Laborers Who Died During Construction. Erected By The Boulder City Central Labor Council. Arizona & Nevada.
Arizona Side. Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Arizona & Nevada. Travels & Tours Pictures, Photos, Images, & Reviews.	Concrete Core Sample Hoover Dam, & Lake Mead Arizona & Nevada.

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