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1. This magnificent engineering feat is the work of man. Not to diminish the amazing wonders found in nature, but the construction of Hoover Dam is a gigantic tribute to human ingenuity. A visit here may even inspire a belief in your own ability to accomplish whatever you put your mind to. 2. When you walk onto Hoover Dam, there is a point in the middle through which the state border runs. You can straddle it with a leg on the Nevada side and a leg on the Arizona side. It’s one of the few instances where you can claim to be in two places at once! 3. The Colorado River is a treacherous unpredictable river that flows through seven states—and Hoover Dam reigns in this raging torrent. It controls flooding while storing water for irrigation and for people to drink. Talk about power! 
4. Actually, talking about power…Hoover Dam contains 17 hydroelectric generating units, each of which can supply power to 100,000 households. This is great for the environment as no pollutants are released—but you will spy about 2,700 miles of transmission wires running all across the Southwest to deliver electricity to eager users. 5. Hoover Dam is an example of a government project that was actually completed ahead of schedule. Construction of it began in 1931 and the last concrete was poured in 1935, which was two years before its estimated completion date. 6. Hoover Dam makes you appreciate the improvement in today’s work conditions. When the dam was constructed in the ’30s, more than 5,000 men toiled day and night in the blazing heat (temperatures often soared above 120° F). They were also exposed to dangers including carbon monoxide poisoning, dehydration and electrocution from electrical lines. 7. Hoover Dam is an example of Americans pulling together. Would you believe every state in the U.S. contributed some supplies and materials for its construction? That’s something our state governments could learn from today! 8. Hoover Dam is also an example of the grandeur of the past. It was once the world’s tallest dam towering at 726 feet. Sadly, it’s fallen in ranking over the past few decades and now holds the No. 18 spot. Currently, the tallest dam in the world is the Nurek Dam in the Central Asian nation of Tajikistan, which stands at 984 feet—dwarfing Hoover Dam. 9. In some ways, you could say Hoover Dam built Las Vegas. By the early ’20s, the gambling city’s fortunes were on the decline and the population had fallen to only 2,300. When construction of Hoover Dam began in 1931, money and people flowed into the area. Soon the population swelled to 7,500—and visitors started flocking in to check out the progress of the mighty dam! 10. Hoover Dam is spectacular from all viewpoints—up close or from a distance, on top or from the water below. You can’t go wrong no matter which perspective you choose to see it from. In fact, among the most popular Hoover Dam tours are helicopter trips because they allow you to do your sightseeing from multiple angles with ease. Written By Yvonne Newman
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