Advt.
The famous
Hoover dam is built on the Colorado river bordering the states of Nevada and
Arizona, about 30 miles from the city of Las Vegas. It also forms a part of US
93 highway and about 15000 people pass through it each day. It was the highest
dam in the world when it was built and is among the Seven Wonders of the
Industrial World. The construction of Hoover Dam was done between 1930 and 1935
and a workforce of about 16,000 men and women.
Building a dam on the mighty Colorado river which is 1450 miles long and has
carved out terrains like Grand Canyon and Marble Canyon was not an easy task
with the limited resources available in 1930's. Also the location was
underdeveloped and dangerous to live. The reason so many people all across the
country joined workforce for the construction was because United States was
undergoing a major economic depression called the great depression and people
were desperately searching for jobs. Official figures say that abut 96 people
were killed in industrial accidents. Several others died from the heat, poor
sanitation and carbon monoxide poisoning. The dam construction was over two
years ahead of schedule.
The construction of Hoover dam (earlier called the Boulder Dam) was successful
largely due to the vital role played by Secretary of Commerce 'Herbert Hoover'.
To show appreciation for his work the Bolder Dam was renamed as Hoover Dam.
'Herbert Hoover' eventually served as the 31st President of United States. The
Lake Mead reservoir was created as a result of Hoover Dam. Lake Mead is named
after 'Elwood Mead' who also played a vital role in construction of the dam. The
electrical power generated by Hoover Dam goes to Southern California, Arizona
and Nevada and irrigation water to huge areas in US and Mexico.
Other quick facts about Hoover Dam are:
- It is 726.4 feet high, 1,244 feet across the top.
- The width is thickest on the base, that is 660 feet.
- It weighs more than 6,600,000 tons.
- Water pressure at the base of Dam is 45,000 pounds per square feet.
- There are 4,360,000 cubic yards of concrete in the dam, power plant and
appurtenant works. This much concrete would build a monument of 100 square feet and
2-1/2 miles high; would rise higher than the Empire State Building (which is
1,250 feet) if placed on an ordinary city block; or would pave a standard
highway 16 feet wide, from San Francisco to New York City
- The principal materials were reinforcement steel, 45,000,000 pounds; gates and
valves, 21,670,000 pounds; plate steel and outlet pipes, 88,000,000 pounds; pipe
and fittings, 6,700,000 pounds or 840 miles; structural steel, 18,000,000
pounds; miscellaneous metal work 5,300,000 pounds.
- Hoover Dam has 17 generators giving it the capacity to produce over 2,000
megawatts of hydro electric power.
- Being on the border of Nevada and Arizona the time zone on both ends of the
dam are different.
- Construction cost: $49 million ( not adjusted for inflation).
Source and official site : http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/*
