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Show 1 Dam compliments beauty of Gorge By Steven Wallis Eipresi Newi Edo. The 502-foot concrete Flaming Gorge Dam acts as a magnet to thousands of adventurous campers, fishermen and tourists who are seeking seek-ing out outback country every year. Actually the dam and 95-mile reservoir reser-voir only enhance the beauty nature made thousands of years ago. But this year the dam has an added attraction. Nearly 2'2 times its normal amount of water passing through the dam's spillway, generator and jet tubes, creates a spectacle rarely seen at the Gorge. The large amount of release has been caused by high levels of runoff and the lowering of the Fontenelle Dam in Wyoming. The dam is open April through September and offers a self-guided tour from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. As you tour the dam you will descend des-cend to the river bed by elevator, tour the power plant, outlet and return again Jo the top of the dam. The visitor's center at the dam provides pro-vides an information source for the tourist who really wants to explore the area. Flaming Gorge is located 41.1 miles north of Vernal, Utah on Utah-44. Recreational opportunities at Flaming Flam-ing Gorge include boating, fishing, hunting, waterskiing, river running, camping, backpacking and hiking. When the dam was first built, several years ago, it was said to be the "greatest fishing in the world." Indeed the fishing is good both below the dam and on the reservoir. Several Utah and world record fish have been taken from the impound. Marina facilities are located at Cedar Springs, Lucerne Valley, and Buckboard, Wyo. A 10-mile drive through nearby Sheep Creek Canyon, where 19 geologic formations are exposed, ex-posed, is a popular activity. Fishing is excellent in Sheep Creek, but check the fishing proclamation for special regulations. Antelope Flat, 10 miles from the dam, you can get a good view of Flaming Flam-ing Gorge. In John Wesley Powell's words, "The river enters the range by a flaring, brilliant red gorge that may be seen from the north a score of miles away. We name it Flaming Gorge." Below the dam the water of the Green River offers some exciting river runs for the novice boatman. Boats can be rented in Dutch John and Flaming Flam-ing Gorge Lodge. From Manila, off U-43, and Dutch John, off U-260, visitors can depart for beaches, forests, canyons and secluded seclud-ed campgrounds, some accessible only by water. Numerous campgrounds are also available on the Ashley National Forest, south of the dam. A favorite camping area is near Red Canyon Overlook and Visitor Center. Even if you don't plan to go camping, the spectacular view of Flaming Gorge Reservoir 1,500 feet below the rim must be seen to be believed at Red Canyon Overlook. The Visitor Center offers several displays of wildlife, plantlife, and other resources of the area. There is limited lodging at Manila and Red Canyon, supplies and fuel are also available. For more information contact Manila District Ranger, Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, P. 0. box 278, Manila, Utah 84046. (801) 784-5445. ... -fit-- ' ' , - ... -ii5;.V i Jf-rr-Hfrr-;?":"-"!; -.-.;f" x A SELF-GUIDED tour through Flaming Gorge Dam makes an enjoyable hour stop, and it is especially interesting with a full reservoir behind the dam. |