If you are anywhere near Page, AZ, take the time to go and check out the Glen Canyon Dam. Our main objective while in Page was to visit the Navajo Upper Antelope Slot Canyon along with the breathtaking Horseshoe Bend. In between these tours, we made a quick stop by the dam. We thoroughly enjoyed making a stop and checking it out. It’s worth a visit in the Page, AZ area!
What is the Glen Canyon Dam?
The Bureau of Reclamation built the enormous Glen Canyon Dam from 1956 to 1966 to harness the power from the flowing Colorado River. Water flows through turbines that generate electricity and releases the water on the other side of the dam back into the river. The dam also created Lake Powell which has over 25 million acre-feet of water storage capacity.
Where is the Glen Canyon Dam?
What’s the History of the Glen Canyon Dam?
Construction
The dam construction started in 1956 and completed in 1966 for $135 million. It rises 710 feet above the bedrock. The dam is the second highest concrete arched dam in the United States, second only to Hoover Dam, which stands at 726 feet.
Lake Powell
The 25. 16 million acre-feet of water storage capacity in Lake Powell, created by the Glen Canyon Dam, serves as a bank account of water that has drawn on in times of drought.
Lake Powell acts as a holding tank for outflow from the Colorado River. Upper Basin states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. At 186 miles long and nearly 2, 000 miles of shoreline, longer than the entire west coast of the USA, Lake Powell covers an impressive amount of territory across the American West. It attracts over 3 million visitors a year.
Hydroelectric Power
Hydroelectric power produced by the dam’s eight generators helps meet the electrical needs of the West’s rapidly growing population. The power plant produces around 5 billion kilowatt hours of hydroelectric power annually, which is distributed by the Western Area Power Administration. Administration to Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Nebraska.
The Bridge
The Glen Canyon Dam Bridge is a steel arch bridge carrying US Route 89 across the Colorado River, adjacent to the Glen Canyon Dam. The US Bureau of Reclamation built the bridge in preparation to build the dam. This was needed to transport all the materials needed to construct the dam.
This is a two-lane bridge that has an overall length of 1,271 feet (387 m) and sits 700 feet (210 m) above the river. This makes it one of the highest bridges in the United States. The bridge was the highest arch bridge in the world when completed in 1959.[1]
Who does Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell Names Originate
The Glen Canyon Dam is named after the Glen Canyon which is a series of deep sandstone gorges now flooded by the reservoir. Lake Powell is named after John Wesley Powell, who in 1869 led the first expedition to traverse the Colorado River’s Grand Canyon by boat.
What to Expect at the Site?
There is little elevation change so the walk is easy. It gets a bit more adventurous if you walk out onto the bridge.
Parking Lot Views
You can park in the parking lot and take pictures on that side of the dam.
Views from the Bridge
You can also walk down the bridge for more straight-on pictures of the dam on the Colorado river outlet side. That sidewalk is intended for pedestrians and has a safety barrier so it is considered relatively safe.
Carl B. Jayden Visitor Center
Finally, the Carl B. Jayden Visitor Center is located 700 feet above the Colorado River overlooking the Dam and Bridge. The Visitor Center provides exhibits, audio-visual programs, and ranger presentations. It also has a gift shop and an educational bookstore.
The Glen Canyon Dam is an impressive site to visit. The gigantic dam, the second largest in the United States, is a site to see and a marvel of engineering and man versus nature.
The Dam is a must-see while you are in the area of Page, AZ. We were blown away by the nearby Upper Antelope Slot Canyon tour and the breathtaking Horseshoe Bend area. If you are coming to do either of these attractions or heading to Lake Powell, take a few extra minutes and stop by the dam.
If you like this content check out our other videos on Upper Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, also in Page, along with other videos covering our epic Arizona trip.
Thanks for watching and as always we will see you in the next video.
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