| Show boulder dam required an expenditure of before it was completed boulder dam was built between the rock walls in black canyon on the colorado river that same treacherous torrent which carved out the grand canyon and which forms the arizona nevada boundary line near las vegas nev such a project to control the dangerous floods of the colorado and to provide against the drouth periods ds which ensue after its springtime rush to the gulf with the melting rocky mountain snows had been conceived many years before it was begun even the location in black canyon or in in boulder canyon 18 miles up the river had been agreed upon by engineers but there was no way of financing the project which cost until the demand for power in the rapidly grow grolig g southern california cities and the intermediate area made it feasible it is to be paid tor for entirely out of earnings actual work on the main project was completed in five years two years less than anticipated at ai times there were more than workmen employed in the night and day operations and trucks machinery and other equipment of un heard of proportions were built just for the project th the dam face is feet high from a bottom thickness of feet it tapers to a top thickness of 45 feet and this mass of solid concrete has pushed back the waters of the colorado to form lake mead the largest artificial body of water in in the world it is miles in length will attain a maximum depth of feet and varies in width from the narrow do boulder ulder canyon gorge which separates the two main lake sections to expanses of water many miles across its fjord marked shoreline eventually will be miles long |
