We went to Hoover Dam on Friday, Sept 4. We rode a nice bike trail from the Lake Mead Visitor Center over to the Dam. Total round trip he ride was almost 7 1/2 miles. The trail follows where the train tracks were to deliver supplies when they were building the Dam. There were 5 short tunnels and beautiful views of the lake. The lake is down 150 feet from it's high point. The white calcium deposits show the old level of the lake. The lady at the visitor center said it can go down another 80 feet before they would have to stop using it for power. One of the most exciting parts of the bike ride was spotting 10 Big Horn Sheep on the hill. We could not get very close to get good pictures, they do not like people. There was not really a place to park the bikes so we went back and took the car over to the Dam.
At the Hoover Dam we took the Turbine Tour. Wayne was comparing it to the nuclear plants he has worked for. Hoover Dam has 17 generators that produced 130 Mega Watts each which is more than twice what Harris Nuclear Plant generates ! The Hoover Dam is an amazing piece of architecture. They have built the new bridge since we were there 11 years ago. WOW is it big ! They still allow you to drive over the dam but it is no longer the main traffic flow.
Big Horn Sheep
Close up to see the calcium deposits where the lake has receded...that is a speed boat in the left foreground !
The generators on the Nevada Side the others are on the Arizona side
The new bridge
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