An hour's drive from Las Vegas is a unique site recognized as a Historic Landmark and National Architectural Monument of the United States of America - the Hoover Dam. The concrete dam, as high as a seventy-storey building (221 m), is amazing. The huge structure squeezed between the Black Canyon ledges and has been holding back the rebellious nature of the Colorado River for more than 80 years.
In addition to the dam and the operating power plant, tourists can visit the museum complex, admire the panoramic landscapes, cross the border between Nevada and Arizona on the arch bridge located at an altitude of 280 meters. Above the level of the dam is the huge man-made Lake Mead, where it is customary to fish, go boating and relax.
History of the Hoover Dam
Local Indian tribes call Colorado the Great River Serpent. The river originates in the Rocky Mountains, which are the main ridge in the Cordillera system of North America. Every spring a river with a basin of over 390 sq. km, overflowed with melt water, as a result of which it overflowed the coast. It is not difficult to imagine the enormous damage the floods caused to farms.
By the twenties of the last century, the issue was so acute that harnessing Colorado's destructive power became a political decision. Many want to know why they built the dam, and the answer is simple enough - to control the water level of the river. Also, the reservoir was supposed to solve the problem of water supply to the regions of Southern California and, first of all, to the intensively growing Los Angeles.
The project required significant capital investment, and as a result of debate and discussion, an agreement was signed in 1922. The government representative was Herbert Hoover, who was then Secretary of Commerce. Hence the name of the document - "The Hoover Compromise".
But it took eight long years before the government allocated the first subsidies for the ambitious project. It was during this period that Hoover was in power. Despite the fact that after the changes in the project, it was known where the new construction site was, until 1947 it was named the Boulder Canyon Project. Only two years after Hoover's death in 1949, the Senate made a final decision on this issue. From that moment on, the dam became officially named after 31 US presidents.
How the Hoover Dam was built
The contract for the execution of works on the construction of the dam as a result of a competitive selection went to the group of companies Six Companies, Inc. Construction began in May 1931, and its completion fell on April 1936, well ahead of schedule. The project provided for the use of non-standard engineering solutions and a good organization of the construction process:
- The walls and ledges of the canyon were cleaned and leveled at the start of the work. The rock climbers and demolition men who risked their lives every day are erected at the entrance to the Hoover Dam.
- Water from the place of work was diverted through tunnels, which still exist, performing a partial supply of water to the turbines or its discharge. This system reduces the load on the dam and contributes to its stability.
- The dam is designed as a series of interconnected columns. A cooling system for concrete structures was created using running water to accelerate the hardening of concrete. Research in 1995 showed that the concrete structure of the dam is still gaining strength.
- In total, more than 600 thousand tons of cement and 3.44 million cubic meters were required for casting the dam. meters of filler. At the time of completion of construction, the Hoover Dam was considered the most massive man-made object since the Egyptian pyramids. To solve such a large-scale task, two concrete factories were built.
The feat of the builders
The construction took place at a difficult time, when there were many people in the country without work and place of residence. The construction has literally saved many families by creating thousands of jobs. Despite the difficult conditions and the lack of elementary conveniences in the initial period, the flow of those in need of work did not dry up. People came as families and settled in tents near the construction site.
The wages were hourly and started at 50 cents. The maximum bet was set at $ 1.25. At the time, it was decent money desired by thousands of unemployed Americans. On average 3-4 thousand people worked at the sites daily, but in addition to this, additional work appeared in related industries. This rise was felt in neighboring states, where there were steel mills, mines, factories.
Under the terms of the contract, rules were negotiated between contractor representatives and the government to restrict hiring based on race. The employer prioritized professionals, war veterans, white men and women. A small quota was set for Mexicans and African Americans who were used as the cheapest labor. It was strictly forbidden to accept people from Asia, especially Chinese, for construction. The government had a bad track record of building and rebuilding San Francisco, where the Chinese workers' diaspora has grown to become the largest in the United States.
A temporary camp was planned for the builders, but contractors have adjusted the schedule in an effort to increase construction speed and jobs. The settlement was built only a year later. The Big Six resettled workers in capital houses, imposing a number of bans on residents. When the dam was built, the city was able to obtain official status.
It was not easy bread for the builders. In the summer months, the temperature could stay at 40-50 degrees for a long time. Drivers and climbers risked their lives virtually every shift. 114 deaths were officially registered, but in reality there were much more.
Project value
The construction of the Hoover Dam cost America a huge amount at that time - 49 million dollars. In just five years, a construction project of a unique scale was completed. Thanks to the reservoir, farms in Nevada, California and Arizona today have the necessary water supply and can fully develop irrigated agriculture. Cities throughout the region received a cheap source of electricity, which spurred industrial development and population growth. According to historians, the construction of the Hoover Dam is associated with the rapid development of Las Vegas - the gambling capital of America, which in a short period of time turned from a small provincial town into a pompous metropolis.
Until 1949, the power plant and dam were considered the largest in the world. The Hoover Dam is owned by the US government and plays an important role in maintaining the balance of electricity consumption in the western regions of the country. The automated control system of the station was introduced in 1991 and works perfectly even without the participation of the operator.
The Hoover Dam is attractive not only as a unique engineering structure. Its architectural value is also noted, which is associated with the name of the famous American architect Gordon Kaufman. The external design of the dam, water intake towers, museum and memorial complex allowed the man-made structure to harmoniously fit into the panorama of the canyon. The dam is an extremely popular and recognizable object. It is difficult to imagine a person who would refuse to take a photo against a background of such breathtaking beauty.
This is why companies and community organizations love to stage promotions or protests around the Hoover Dam. Hoover Dam is very popular with filmmakers. She was rescued by Superman and the hero of the movie "Universal Soldier", tried to destroy the hooligans Beavis and Butthet. The touching Homer Simpson and the formidable army of Transformers encroached on the integrity of the concrete wall. And the creators of computer games looked into the future of the Hoover Dam and came up with a new form of existence for it after a nuclear war and a worldwide apocalypse.
Even after decades, with the advent of even more ambitious projects, the dam continues to amaze. How much perseverance and courage it took to create and build such a unique engineering structure.
