After the Grand Canyon the path of the Colorado River is again blocked by the Hoover Dam. Completed in 1935 it was for many years the worlds largest dam.
A new bridge is being constructed over the canyon to allow traffic by-pass the dam (and reducing the risk of terrorist attack).
The canyon is much narrower by this point and steep mountains are all around the dam location.
Looking downstream from the top of the dam.
Looking back at the dam from the Nevada side with the visitor centre car park in the foreground.
Lake Mead was created by the dam being built and it is about 70ft below its normal level as shown by the white line on the rocks.
Although the dams (at Lake Powell and the Hoover) produce large amounts of hydro electric power, their main purpose is to regulate the flow of water in the Colorado River providing a means of managing supplies to the south western states whilst controlling floods from rain and spring melt waters.
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