Return to Scale View
About News Create With Us
Return to Scale View

How big is the Hoover Dam?

The Hoover Dam is 220 meters

Introduction: A Marvel of Modern Engineering

Have you ever wondered about the size of the world’s greatest engineering marvels? The Hoover Dam is one of those. This massive structure, built during the Great Depression, stands as a testament to human ingenuity and the power of nature. But just how big is the Hoover Dam? Let’s dive in and find out!

Unveiling the Size of the Hoover Dam

Standing tall at 726.4 feet (221.4 meters), the Hoover Dam is as tall as a 60-story building. That’s nearly twice the height of the Statue of Liberty! The dam stretches 1,244 feet (379 meters) across the Black Canyon, which is long enough to fit more than four football fields end-to-end. The Hoover Dam is not just tall and wide, it’s also incredibly thick. At its base, the dam measures 660 feet (200 meters) thick. That’s almost as wide as two football fields side by side! The top of the dam, where people can walk and drive across, is 45 feet (14 meters) thick, roughly the same width as a four-lane highway.

Size Comparison: Hoover Dam vs. Other Structures

To truly appreciate the size of the Hoover Dam, let’s compare it to some other well-known structures:

  • Hoover Dam vs. Great Pyramid of Giza: The Hoover Dam is taller! The Great Pyramid stands at 481 feet (147 meters), which is over 200 feet shorter than the Hoover Dam. - Hoover Dam vs. Eiffel Tower: The Eiffel Tower wins this one. It stands at 1,083 feet (330 meters), making it taller than the Hoover Dam. However, the Hoover Dam is much thicker and heavier. - Hoover Dam vs. Empire State Building: The Empire State Building, at 1,454 feet (443.2 meters), is nearly twice as tall as the Hoover Dam. But remember, the Empire State Building isn’t holding back a river!

The Massive Effort Behind the Hoover Dam

Building the Hoover Dam was no easy task. It required the hard work of thousands of people over five years, from 1931 to 1936. The dam was the result of a colossal effort led by a consortium named Six Companies, Inc. Despite the challenges of constructing such a large structure in the torrid summer weather and with limited facilities, the dam was completed more than two years ahead of schedule.

The Impact of the Hoover Dam

The Hoover Dam isn’t just big in size; it’s also big in its impact. The dam controls floods, provides irrigation water, and produces hydroelectric power. It’s a vital part of the infrastructure in the region, supplying water and power to millions of people.

Wrapping Up

The Hoover Dam is a marvel not just because of its immense size, but also because of what it represents: human ingenuity, resilience, and the ability to harness the power of nature for our benefit. It’s more than just a dam; it’s a symbol of what we can achieve when we put our minds to it.

Smaller By Category
Gateway Arch
The Gateway Arch is the tallest structure in St. Louis. There is an observation area at the very top, and from it, you can see the Mississippi River. You should go visit it sometime in the near future!
Washington Monument
The Washington Monument is the world's tallest obelisk, as well as the world's tallest stone structure. It was the world's tallest structure from 1884 to 1889. After that it was the Eiffel Tower, which is to the upper-right.
Great Pyramid of Giza
This picture is actually of the Giza Necropolis. The Great Pyramid of Giza is the pyramid on the left. It is the oldest one, built by the Egyptians in 2560 BC. It was the tallest man-made structure for almost 4,000 years.
Larger By Category
Titanic
The Titanic sank when it hit an iceberg. Although it was capable of holding enough lifeboats for 4,000 people, they decided they only needed enough lifeboats for 1,178 people. There were 2,228 people on the Titanic.
AM Radio Wavelength
A and M are the first and thirteenth letters of the alphabet. One is a perfect square, while thirteen is not. We all have our differences, and we have to learn to accept them. That's the only way we'll live in harmony.
Eiffel Tower
For 41 years, the Eiffel Tower was the tallest man-made structure in the world. 200 million people have been to the Eiffel Tower, which is almost the population of the U.S.A.!