United States
Hoover Dam
Welcome to Hoover Dam! This massive concrete dam holds back the Colorado River, creating Lake Mead and providing power and water to millions of people.
Why is it famous?
It was one of the largest and most ambitious construction projects in American history when it was built.
It creates Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States by volume.
How was it built?
Thousands of workers built the dam during the Great Depression, finishing it two years ahead of schedule.
Engineers had to first divert the entire Colorado River through huge tunnels so the riverbed could be dried out for construction.
Amazing facts
The dam stands 726 feet tall — about as tall as a 60-story skyscraper.
It contains enough concrete to build a two-lane highway from San Francisco to New York.
Quick facts
- The dam stands 726 feet tall — about as tall as a 60-story skyscraper.
- It contains enough concrete to build a two-lane highway from San Francisco to New York.
- Hoover Dam's power plant generates enough electricity to power hundreds of thousands of homes.
- It took about 5 years to build, from 1931 to 1936.