One of the definitions of the word "reclamation" is "the recovery of a wasteland or of flooded land so it can be cultivated." The builders soon constructed an observation platform on the canyon rim to keep the tourists away from the construction site. A few hundred miles north, a fast-moving wildfire incinerated the town of Lytton in British Columbia the day after it set a Canadian temperature record of 121F (49.4C). Dam Safety. The men filled the holes they had drilled with dynamite and then the jumbos drove away. The availability of water stored behind Hoover Dam and the power produced by that water played a critical role in the growth of the American Southwest in the mid-20th century, but the demand for more water and electricity soon outstripped what this one dam could provide. To get in to the visitor center, you must pass through security more stringent than an airport. When you finish you will have 3 miles of tunnel 50 feet in diameter. Divide students into small groups and ask them to investigate examples of public works in their own community. Bureau of Reclamation History Pouring the dam.Take cement, rock and sandmix welladd waterpour into canyon. How does that compare with the 16.5 million acre feet that the Colorado River Compact used as the basis for calculating the amount of water available for allocation to the states? Herbert Hoover, at that time the secretary of commerce for Republican President Calvin Coolidge, led the discussions. The cross section in the upper right hand corner is a side view. Excavating.Lower steam shovels into the canyon. #4 - Las Vegas, NV - stay in the heart of it all for the casinos, shows and nightlife, then, take a tour of the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon for memories that last a . Ask them to consider all kinds of jobs. Ice plantyouve got to have a plant capable of turning out about 2 million pounds of ice a day. The total capacity at Hoover is now 1,617 megawattsa 20 percent decrease from its designed capacity of 2,080 megawatts. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. All vehicles are required to undergo a security inspection prior to visiting the dam. Before the building of Hoover Dam, the Colorado River was dangerous and unreliable. ScalingAfter standing out in the weather so long, canyon walls become soft and decayed on the surface. The Bureau of Reclamation, the federal agency that runs Hoover Dam, has not yet released more information, per The Associated Press.. Eventually they removed 1.5 million cubic yards of rock. At flood time, if the lake rises high enough to reach the spillways, it can be turned out through these original tunnels. Actually, once we got thru the checkpoint, we drove to the visitor center, where we parked in a garage ($10, cash only), and then we walked across the actual dam my kids were excited about walking from Nevada to Arizona and back again. then, once we returned to our car, we stopped at the bridge. You can take one of themno one will miss itmaybe. They may be surprised at how old and how impressive some of these structures are. 4) One illustration showing three views of Hoover Dam; and The maps and images appear twice: in a small version with associated questions and alone in a larger version. Most of the water is used in the Lower Colorado Basin. Then divide the class into small groups. Many of those who take their lives do so in order to escape the mental anguish of coping with daily life. And then, a background check is done. 6) To identify public works in their own local community. By this time, too, developers in Los Angeles and other rapidly growing cities in Southern California had added their powerful support for the project. What do you think is going on in this image? Located in Pyramid Canyon about 70 miles downstream from Hoover Dam, this zoned earth-fill dam consists of concrete . The materials listed below can be used directly on the computer or printed out, photocopied, and distributed to students. Hoover Dam is 1,244 feet long at the top. The situation here is emblematic of a planet slowly, inexorably overheating. By studying "The Greatest Dam in the World": Building Hoover Dam, students have learned why Hoover Dam was a triumph for the engineers of the Bureau of Reclamation, for the construction company that built it, and for the thousands of men who worked to complete it. Time period: Early to mid 20th century. During a dark time, Hoover Dam seemed to transcend Americans fears about the future. 3. We recognize also the energy, resourcefulness and zeal of the builders, who, under the greatest physical obstacles, have pushed this work forward to completion two years in advance of the contract requirements. What were conditions like in America in 1931? The bridge is located high in the mountains above the dam. But scientists have made clear the current conditions would be virtually impossible without human-caused climate change, pointing to a longer-term aridification of the region. There is a security check point that causes slow traffic as you are on the road to see the dam. Standard A - The student elaborates mental maps of locales, regions, and the world that demonstrate understanding of relative location, direction, size, and shape. All these dimensions are superlative. Can you trace the course the water follows from the reservoir through the power plants and outlet works and then back into the river? Built during the Great Depression, Hoover Dam is one of America's great historical landmarks. Ask them to look up the construction dates for the other Colorado River dams shown on Map 1, as well as the purpose/benefits for which they were built. Look carefully at the cut-away view. It is awesome! 5. Standard 2AThe student demonstrates understanding of the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal. No dreams of relocating to live in a tamed desert. The river, and dam, made the west; now the climate crisis threatens to break it. Hoover Dam: Hoover Dam tour ruined by Dam security! LESSON NO. Hoover Dam is as tall as a 60-story building. From Las Vegas, take US Highway 93 South and continue about 20 miles to Boulder City. Do you think you would have come here looking for a job? The first of these great multipurpose projects would be a huge dam on the lower Colorado River. Make them each 56 feet in diameter, then line them with three feet of concrete. The engineering might of Hoover dam undoubtably reshaped Americas story, harnessing a raucous river to help carve huge cities and vast fields of crops into unforgiving terrain. The company listings and photos are matched at the checkpoint. Remember that temperatures regularly exceed 90 degrees on the hottest days, and bring lots of water with you. Private vehicles are allowed to cross after the vehicle is inspected. The wests ambitions have crunched into the searing reality of the Anthropocene. Assorted steam shovels, etc.you'll have to move about 6 million cubic yards of rock and dirt, digging tunnels and whittling out the canyon walls to make room for the dam. Why or why not? The cut-away view on the right side shows features that would not be visible from the surface. Standard G - The student describes and analyzes the role of technology in communications, transportation, information-processing, weapons development, and other areas as it contributes to or helps resolve conflicts. Used by permission. Whom did they benefit? Your guess is as good as mine whether well get that. This website includes links to a number of documents, including a short history of Reclamation, a longer, book-length history of the years before 1945, and a study of large Federal dams, including Hoover. Additional money is allocated for security work on . How much money has been allotted to secure the dam? It is just a bridge to a driver. 3. The Hoover Dam is located in the southwestern part of the United States. Hoover Dam would be the highest dam in the world, far taller than anything they had built so far. Some states were not happy about the compact; Arizona did not ratify it until 1944. Dam infrastructure can be affected by natural hazards, man-made threats, as well as an imbalance between resources invested and a dam's age. 2. Look carefully at this image. 1) One map showing the Colorado River Basin; Look at Illustration 1. Corporal Joe Ward . Divide the class into seven small groups. Parking is $10 and there are no real alternatives. No sprawling food bowl of wheat, alfalfa and corn. What would have been the plusses? In this lesson, students have learned why and how Hoover Dam was constructed. Roosevelt strongly defended the work relief projects for which his administration was famous. If the states did not agree with what you recommended, who do you think should have the right to make a final decision? Six Companies was responsible for converting Reclamations designs into actual concrete and steel. Standard G - The student applies knowledge of how groups and institutions work to meet individual needs and promote the common good. During an average summer, more than 100 engineers and electricians would work on the Hoover Dam. Right off we decided to prepare a list of seven wonders of the United States. Lower several hundred men from the top on ropes and let them drill the cliffs full of holes. You will go about 20 mph. 1. - See 9,462 traveler reviews, 11,670 candid photos, and great deals for Boulder City, NV, at Tripadvisor. How long would it take for the concrete in the dam to cool by itself? Reclamation engineers prepared hundreds of drawings for the construction companyall much more detailed than this simplified illustration. In 2010, in the United States there were 38,364 reported suicide deaths. Go back to Reading 2. The dam had to be big. Now drill holes through the cliffs from towers to power plant. Another change is the modification of tour routes. Not as exciting as the Grand Canyon but worth the visit. Its base is as thick as two football fields are long. Why was this work necessary? Davis Dam. Download the official NPS app before your next visit. Why do you think both Reclamation and Six Companies thought the diversion tunnels were so important? Additional money is allocated for security work on the structure and facilities. It would take 150 years for all that concrete in the dam to cool under normal conditions. This shows the floor of the canyon, hundreds of feet below. Across the San Jacinto Mountains southwest of Boulder Dam, the cities of Southern California are constructing an aqueduct to cost $220,000,000, which they have raised, for the purpose of carrying the regulated waters of the Colorado River to the Pacific Coast 259 miles away. They stretch for some 124 miles (200 kilometers) along the upper and middle reaches of the . The canals and aqueduct in California receive water from the Colorado. 2. The association added that such a scenario could even force people to move east, in what it called a reverse Dust Bowl exodus.