http://www.scenic.com/tours/hoover-dam-bus-tour | Hoover Dam is an engineering and construction wonder. It was constructed in the mid-1900s and named after U.S. President Herbert Hoover. Today, Hoover Dam is known for providing electricity and recreation opportunities.  Here are 8 interesting facts to know about this iconic structure.

2. Largest Manmade Reservoir
Hoover Dam was constructed in the 1930s. It spans the
Colorado River in Black Canyon between Arizona and Nevada
and is the largest manmade reservoir in the United States.

3. Hoover Dam’s foundation relies on gravity to keep the entire
structure from collapsing. Due to this, it is technically considered
a concrete arch-gravity retaining wall.

4. Originally known as Boulder Dam, Hoover Dam was renamed
in 1947 in honor of Herbert Hoover. As the U.S. Secretary of
Commerce and the 31st U.S. President, Hoover significantly
influenced the creation of the dam.

5. The primary purpose of the dam is to generate
electricity. This service began on September 12, 1936. The
Hoover Dam electric generating plant produces enough
electricity to meet the power needs for over a million people.

6. wide at its crest. It's made from 3.25 million tons of concrete
and weighs more than 6.5 million tons. The dam was built
using 215 interlocking blocks.
Hoover Dam rises 726 feet and is 1,200 feet

7. Hoover Dam was constructed in 5 years. In total, 21,000
men labored on the dam. The average total payroll for the
construction was $500,000 per month.

8. During construction, the Colorado River had to be
diverted. Tunnels had to be bored through both cliff faces in
order to draw off water from the site. The largest tunnel was
three miles long.

9. Recreation
Another purpose of Hoover Dam is to provide
tourism in the surrounding areas by creating substantial
outdoor recreation opportunities. For example, tourists and
residents visit Lake Mead for boating, swimming, and fishing.

10. Scenic is the largest and most experienced
aerial tour operator in the world. Over 10 million customers
have visited the Grand Canyon and other National Parks
with Scenic. The tours allow visitors from around the world
to experience the beauty of the Southwest. Scenic offers
over 20 unique and customizable tours that range from
several hours to overnight to several days.
Phone: 1-800-634-6801
Website: http://www.scenic.com
Recreation

11. Sources
http://traveltips.usatoday.com/hoover-dam-4890.html