Facts from Bureau of Reclamation
Original Name:
Boulder Dam
Location:
On the Colorado River, 30 mi.(48km) southeast of Vegas, at the border of Arizona and Nevada.
Weight:
6.6 million tons
Length:
1244 ft (379 m)
Height:726 ft (221 m)
Water Pressure:
The maximum pressure at the base of the dam is 45,000 lb/sq. ft.
Power:
The Dam generates 4 billion kWh/year, provides flood control and acts as a reservoir for southern Nevada, southern California and Arizona.
Construction:
Began in 1931 and the Dam opened in 1936. It once was the world's tallest Dam, but now is the 11th tallest. The Rogun Dam in Tajikistan is tallest at 1,099 ft.
Travel time to Hoover Dam by car is close to an hour from Vegas. Traffic is plentiful, so plan to be in stop-and-go mode, even on weekdays.
For directions, go to www.usbr.gov
Visitors can take the Dam's Discovery Tour, a self-led tour with guides at various stops to provide more in-depth information. Try to visit first thing in the morning if you are going during summer months. It gets brutally hot there!
Parking Garage:
On the NV side, before you reach the Visitor Center; Open 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Pacific Time (Fee: $7, cash)
There's free outdoor parking on the AZ side, but it can be a long walk down to the Dam.
Visitor Center:
Open 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Arrive by 3:00 p.m. as pedestrians are prohibited from the top of the Dam in the evening (or as they write more ominously on the Web site "during the hours of darkness"). Open every day but Thanksgiving and Christmas. For more information, call the Visitor Center at (702) 494-2517 or (866) 730-9097.
Note:
Pets are NOT allowed.
Another Note:
It can be windy so women, wear shorts/jeans instead of a skirt. (Trust me!)
The switch from Pacific Time to Mountain Time can be experienced first-hand with a walk across the dam and the Nevada-Arizona border. There are large clocks on either side, conveniently labeled "Nevada Time" and "Arizona Time."
The construction of the Hoover Dam backed up the Colorado River resulting in the formation of Lake Mead. Lake Mead is one of the area's most popular vacation spots. With 550-miles of shoreline, Lake Mead is perfect for kayaking, fishing and water sports. Hikers will enjoy the desert landscape surroundings of gorgeous mountains and plateaus. Find visitor information for Lake Mead at Lake Mead Web site
Nearby Boulder City was built in 1931 to house the Dam workers. It is the only city in Nevada where gambling is illegal. Visitors can enjoy antique shopping and restaurants. Take a walking tour of Boulder City.