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Category: Glen Canyon Dam

Dam View

01 Gaelyn at Dam View Page AZ (800x600)

I really need a Red Rock fix.

02 Dam View Page AZ (800x600)

During the summer Mike and I visited several places I’ve yet to post about. On one of our shopping trips via the Grand Staircase Escalante we stopped at the Dam View in Page, Arizona.

03 Mike on trail at Dam View Page AZ (800x591)

We walked a short trail to the overlook.

04 Eroded sandstone at Dam View Page AZ (800x600)

Past marvelously eroded sandstone sculpture.

05 Gaelyn's shadow on trail at Dam View Page AZ pano (315x800)

Where shadows stood tall.

06 Mike above Marble Canyon on trail at Dam View Page AZ (800x600)

Right up to the edge.

07 Colorado River from Dam View Page AZ 2of2 (599x800)

The Colorado River far below.

08 Glen Canyon Dam from Dam View Page AZ (800x598)

10 million tons of cement called the Glen Canyon Dam hold back and alter the natural flow of the mighty Colorado River. This creates the 186 mile (299 km) long Lake Powell with 1960 miles (3154 km) of shoreline for people to recreate on.

09 Lizard on sandstone at Dam View Page AZ (800x584)

While life looks on.

Colorado River, Dam View, Glen Canyon Dam, Lake Powell, Page Arizona 17 Comments

Water brought to the desert because of Glen Canyon Dam Arizona

End of Echo Cliffs
From the Painted Desert I drove up through a cut in Echo Cliffs on my way to Page and Glen Canyon Dam.

Page Sandstone
On top of the Echo Cliffs lies another exposed layer of sandstone, a little different than below. Windblown sand was deposited about 170 million years ago during the Middle Jurassic creating large-scale cross-bedding (angled lines) seen on exposed sandstone.
Coal fired Navajo Generating Station & Navajo Mountain
Page is a place of power, electricity production that is. The dam generates an average of 451 megawatts compared to the generating station’s 2280 megawatts.

Glen Canyon Dam
Glen Canyon Dam, built between 1956 and 1966, stands 710 feet high, 25 feet wide at the top and 300 feet wide at the base. The dam provides water, electricity, flood control and recreation to millions of people.

Colorado River
The dam also radically changed the ecosystem of the Colorado River. Below the dam the water temperature dropped at least 20 degrees F causing the loss of some native fish. Without periodic flooding to wash away and redeposit sediments the entire riparian habitat changed, including the establishment of non-native plants.

Lake Powell
Glen Canyon Dam backed up the river 186 miles creating a reservoir called Lake Powell with about 100 major side canyons and five marinas. This flooding buried many Native American ruins and outstanding geologic features.


I continued my journey into the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.

 

Arizona, Glen Canyon Dam, National Parks and Monuments , 11 Comments

Lijit

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