Lewis the Lion poses by the sign for the Hoover Dam
From the Grand Canyon, the coach then headed in the direction of a very important dam between the States of Arizona and Nevada: the Hoover Dam.
The dam supplies the water to the city of Las Vegas
When it was built between 1932 and 1936, it was one of the most impressive engineering achievements known to man: controlling the Colorado River was no easy feat.
It took four years to build the Hoover Dam
In fact, many men sadly lost their lives during its construction and this statue at the top of the dam pays tribute to them.
A tribute to the men who built the Hoover Dam
So for over 70 years, the Hoover Dam (controversially named after a U.S. President who backed the project) has been helping to control floods, irrigate the land and also produces hydroelectric power and the water demands for the neighbouring states of Arizona, Nevada and California.
The Hoover Dam also generates hydroelectricity
Being close to the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas, the Hoover Dam attracts a large number of tourists and because of this, security is also tight around the complex, especially with it housing a power plant.
All vehicles are checked before entering the area surrounding the dam
A policeman even got on Lewis the Lion’s bus to check that everything was in order!
Security checks are tight at this location
The dam itself is a huge arched, concrete wall, rising up 221.4 metres from the ground.
The dam wall rises high above the canyon floor
For all that it is manmade, Lewis the Lion thought that it looked serenely beautiful with the enormous volume of water resting peacefully behind the dam itself, surrounded by the dry, mountainous landscape.
Lewis the Lion sees the Hoover Dam wall from above
Lewis the Lion first saw the dam from a special bridge called the Hoover Dam bypass which had taken fifty years to build!
The 50 year bridge: the Hoover Dam Bypass
However, he liked it best when he drove across the bridge next to the dam
Lewis the Lion crosses over the bridge at the top of the Hoover Dam from one state into another
as on one side of it was a clock from the State of Nevada and on the other side was a clock from the State of Arizona, with an hour’s time difference!
There’s an hour’s time zone change as you cross the bridge
‘How strange that you can travel just a few metres across a dam and be in a different time zone!’ Lewis thought to himself.
Lewis the Lion looks on the desolate landscape behind the Hoover Dam
From above the dam, Lewis the Lion was able to absorb the desert landscape again and he could understand mam’s desire to tame the river in such a remote part of the world. The building of the Hoover Dam was indeed a great engineering achievement!
* * *
As you know, Lewis the Lion loves learning languages and so loves words and playing with words too. He noticed the the prefix ‘hydro‘ as in ‘hydro-electric‘ comes from the Greek word meaning ‘water.’
However, he also knows that the Latin word for water is ‘aqua.’
Many words in the English language derive from either Greek or Latin roots.
Lewis the Lion has a word challenge for you!
How many words in English can you find that start with the prefix ‘hydro’ or ‘aqua’?
Good luck! (Lewis the Lion’s top tip: use a good dictionary to help you!).
