Today's Dam Tour

Our schedule for today was to visit the famous Hoover Dam.  Hoover Dam was, at the time, the highest dam which created the largest man-made lake in the country.  The Zadras, Lindens and Marshall/Robersons piled into the rental car and first headed to Boulder City where we had breakfast in a great local spot that Bruce & Trish recommended.  The food was very good and plentiful. We continued on to Hoover Dam and signed up for the full tour of the facility. Learning the history of the dam was very interesting.  Looking over the edge you were in awe of the enormous size of the dam and the amount of concrete that went into its construction.  Once the concrete started pouring it
continued 24/7 for the next two years.  Interesting fact is that on the 75th anniversary a core sample of the concrete showed that the concrete was still curing.
We toured the construction tunnels, were able to go to the ventilation shaft that came out in the middle of the huge wall and visited the huge electric generators.
The dam provides electricity and irrigation water for much of southern California. The drought has impacted the water reserve in that that dam is currently at 45% of capacity.
We took a side trip to the National Recreational area and could see how 45% of capacity has lowered the water level, so much so that what used to harbors are now dry.   It was a very interesting visit.
Tomorrow we plan to visit the Barrett Jackson Auction.

Breakfast Cafe in Boulder City

This wall is over 700' high

This view of the new bridge is from the vent half way up the wall.

On half of the power generators

Nan & I and Bruce & Trish