Hoover Dam

Hoover Dam

A Mighty Dam When Hoover Dam was built in the 1930s, it was the tallest dam in the world. The dam is as tall as a sixty- story building! Hoover Dam is on the Colorado River. The dam controls the flow of the river's water. The dam's power plant uses the water to make electricity.

Dry Desert Hoover Dam is on the border between Arizona and Nevada. It is about 30 miles (48 km) from the city of Las Vegas. Hoover Dam is in a very dry desert. The dam is in a deep, narrow valley between mountains.

Strong Dam, Huge Lake The Colorado River flows downhill to Hoover Dam. The dam stops the water from flowing quickly. Water collects above the dam to form Lake Mead. It is the biggest lake in the United States made by people.

Water has a lot of force when it flows downhill. Hoover Dam is very heavy so it can stay strong when the water hits it. The dam is curved to move the water to the two sides of the canyon. A power plant near the dam changes the force of the moving water into electricity.

Solving a Problem People have been growing crops along the Colorado River for many years. The river used to flood in spring and wash away the crops. People built dams on the river to stop the flooding. Hoover Dam was the first of those dams.