Denison Dam facts for kids
Denison Dam, also known as Lake Texoma Dam, is a huge wall built across the Red River. This important river flows between the states of Texas and Oklahoma. The dam's main jobs are to control floods, provide fresh water for towns, and create hydroelectricity (power from water). It also forms a giant lake, Lake Texoma, which is a popular spot for fun activities.
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Building the Dam: A Look Back
Denison Dam was completed in 1943 during World War II. When it was finished, it was the biggest "rolled-earth fill dam" in the world. This means it was built using layers of packed-down dirt and rock. The dam gets its name from the nearby city of Denison, Texas.
How Big is Denison Dam?
The dam is made from a massive amount of earth – about 18.8 million cubic yards! Imagine a pile of dirt big enough to fill over 5,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The top of the dam's spillway (a channel for extra water) is 640 feet above sea level. Water has flowed over this spillway only five times in the dam's history, showing how well it controls floods.
What the Dam Does
Denison Dam serves several important purposes for the region. It helps manage the Red River's flow, provides resources, and offers many recreational opportunities.
Making Electricity
One of the dam's key roles is to produce clean energy. It generates about 250,000 megawatt hours of electricity every year. This power is made using the force of water flowing through turbines, which is called hydroelectricity. It's enough energy to power many homes and businesses.
Creating Lake Texoma
The dam holds back the Red River to form Lake Texoma, one of the largest lakes in the United States. This lake can hold an amazing 2.6 million acre-foots of water. That's enough water to cover 2.6 million acres with one foot of water! Lake Texoma is a vital source of drinking water for many nearby towns and cities.
Fun at the Lake
Lake Texoma is not just for water and power; it's also a huge playground! There are 47 different areas around the lake where people can have fun. These spots offer activities like boating, fishing, swimming, and camping. The land around the lake also includes 80,000 acres set aside for hunting.
Crossing the Dam
You can drive right over the top of Denison Dam! Oklahoma State Highway 91 and Texas State Highway 91 both cross the dam, connecting the two states.
