Glen Canyon Dam

Have I mentioned that I hate my camera. I should have returned it but I was too lazy. Anyway, on the way we stopped at Glen Canyon Dam. Didn't know it was there. We walked around a little and were going to go in the visitor center and were told we were not allowed to have bags or purses. We went and put everything in the car and saw they had a gift shop. I guess if it fits in your pocket you can take it in. What a hassle. We were going to do the tour but they only had one opening and Tyler didn't want to do it alone. So we got back in the car and continued on our way.

History - On October 15, 1956, the first blast occurred and the construction of Glen Canyon Dam was officially underway. Before that date, the site was virtually inaccessible and construction crews were forced to drive 200 miles to cross from one side of Glen Canyon to the other.
The remote location was selected for the project by a group of Bureau of Reclamation engineers and geologist working from 1946 to 1948. The site met several criteria: the area forming the basin could contain an immense amount of water; the canyon walls and bedrock foundation were strong and stable enough to safely support the high dam; and a large source of good rock and sand was available at nearby Wahweap Creek.
By 1959, the Glen Canyon Bridge was completed permitting the trucks to deliver equipment and materials for the dam and the new town of Page, Arizona.

The plant generates more than 1.3 million kilowatts of electricity with each of the 40-ton steel shafts turning at 150 rpm, generating nearly 200,000 horsepower. With all eight generators operating at full output, over 15 million gallons of water will pass through the power plant's penstocks each minute. The electricity is upgraded on a transformer deck from 13,800 volts to 230,000 and 345,000 volts for transmission to distant markets.