Flaming Gorge Dam facts for kids
The Flaming Gorge Dam is a giant concrete wall built across the Green River in Utah, United States. It's a special type of dam called a concrete-arch dam, which means it's curved to help it hold back a lot of water. This amazing structure was built between 1958 and 1964.
It's one of the largest dams in the United States. The dam itself is about 502 feet (153 meters) tall, 1,180 feet (360 meters) long, and 131 feet (40 meters) thick. Behind the dam, a huge lake forms, called the Flaming Gorge Reservoir. This reservoir is about 91 miles (146 kilometers) long and covers a massive area of 42,000 acres (170 square kilometers).
The main reasons for building the Flaming Gorge Dam were to store water and to create hydroelectric power. It helps manage the water flow in the Green River and produces about 152 megawatts of electricity, which is enough to power many homes and businesses.
Why was the Flaming Gorge Dam built?
The Flaming Gorge Dam was built for two very important reasons:
- Water Storage: The dam creates a huge reservoir (a human-made lake) that can store a lot of water. This water is super important for people, farms, and cities in the dry western United States. It helps make sure there's enough water even during dry seasons.
- Making Electricity: Inside the dam are special machines called turbines. When water from the reservoir flows through these turbines, it spins them, which then generates electricity. This is called hydroelectric power, and it's a clean way to produce energy.
How big is the Flaming Gorge Dam?
The Flaming Gorge Dam is truly massive! It stands taller than many skyscrapers and stretches a long way across the river.
- Height: The dam is about 502 feet (153 meters) tall. Imagine a building with about 50 floors!
- Length: It's 1,180 feet (360 meters) long, which is longer than three football fields lined up end-to-end.
- Thickness: At its base, the dam is 131 feet (40 meters) thick. That's wider than a typical basketball court!
The lake it creates, the Flaming Gorge Reservoir, is also huge. It's one of the largest reservoirs in the region, holding billions of gallons of water.
Images for kids
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Flaming Gorge Damsite June 30, 1960
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Construction work on Flaming Gorge Dam, 1962
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Flaming Gorge Reservoir in Wyoming
