Hoover Dam and Lake Mead
A great place worth visiting, less than an hour away from Las Vegas, is the Hoover Dam. Spanning the Colorado River between the borders of Nevada and Arizona, this colossal dam is a mighty engineering feat. Not only does it produce a large amount of electricity, but it also provides a steady water source for surrounding states and helped tame a once quite destructive river.
In addition to these, Lake Mead - the result of the dam - acts as a National Recreation Area, available to the public for boating, fishing, swimming, and more. Because this lake provides water for so many areas in the southwestern United States, chances are you have eaten food that used water from Lake Mead. Unfortunately, due to an extended drought in recent years, the water level of the lake has gone down considerably. This can be seen by the ring of white calcium deposits on the rock surrounding the lake.
I highly recommend visiting Hoover Dam and taking a tour of the powerplant. It is impressive to see, and there are a lot of interesting facts to learn. After learning a bit more about the ingenuity, sweat, and blood that went into this dam, take a moment to pause and take in all the scenery. From the top of the dam, you can also get a good view of the Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. This bridge was built to re-route traffic that previously drove atop the Hoover Dam and is very impressive in its own right.
If you have time, stop at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area as well for some great views of the lake. It is really cool to see the peaks that are now islands within the lake. Driving along the lakeshore drive is neat, but there are also hiking and camping opportunities if you wish. I definitely suggest investing in an America the Beautiful Pass if you plan on visiting multiple places that participate in program, such as National Parks, National Recreation Areas, National Forests, and other public lands. Future post to speak more to this.
In addition to these, Lake Mead - the result of the dam - acts as a National Recreation Area, available to the public for boating, fishing, swimming, and more. Because this lake provides water for so many areas in the southwestern United States, chances are you have eaten food that used water from Lake Mead. Unfortunately, due to an extended drought in recent years, the water level of the lake has gone down considerably. This can be seen by the ring of white calcium deposits on the rock surrounding the lake.
I highly recommend visiting Hoover Dam and taking a tour of the powerplant. It is impressive to see, and there are a lot of interesting facts to learn. After learning a bit more about the ingenuity, sweat, and blood that went into this dam, take a moment to pause and take in all the scenery. From the top of the dam, you can also get a good view of the Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. This bridge was built to re-route traffic that previously drove atop the Hoover Dam and is very impressive in its own right.
If you have time, stop at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area as well for some great views of the lake. It is really cool to see the peaks that are now islands within the lake. Driving along the lakeshore drive is neat, but there are also hiking and camping opportunities if you wish. I definitely suggest investing in an America the Beautiful Pass if you plan on visiting multiple places that participate in program, such as National Parks, National Recreation Areas, National Forests, and other public lands. Future post to speak more to this.
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