Have you ever seen a giant wall holding back tons of water? That’s exactly what the Hoover Dam does! This amazing structure is one of the largest dams in the United States. It is located on the border of Nevada and Arizona. It helps create electricity, store water, and control flooding.
Why was it built? People living in the southwestern United States needed more water for their farms and homes. In the 1920s, leaders decided to build a huge dam to control the Colorado River.
Construction on the Hoover Dam started in 1931, during the Great Depression. Many people did not have jobs then. Thousands of workers came to help build the dam. The work was dangerous. Five years later, the dam was completed. It was named after President Herbert Hoover.
The Hoover Dam does more than hold back water. It also makes electricity! The powerful water from the Colorado River spins giant turbines inside the dam to create electricity. Homes and businesses in Nevada, Arizona, and California use this electricity. The dam also holds water in Lake Mead. Nevada’s largest city, Las Vegas, gets most of its water from Lake Mead.
Today, millions of people visit the Hoover Dam each year. At 726 feet tall, the dam is more than twice the height of the Statue of Liberty. It’s truly incredible!
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Photo Credit: Frank Nowikowski/Alamy Stock Photo
