Kortes Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kortes Dam |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 Location of Kortes Dam in Wyoming
|
|
| Country | United States |
| Location | Carbon County, Wyoming |
| Coordinates | 42°10′27″N 106°52′52″W / 42.17408°N 106.88110°W |
| Status | In use |
| Construction began | 1946 |
| Opening date | 1951 |
| Owner(s) | U.S. Bureau of Reclamation |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | North Platte River |
| Height | 244 ft (74 m) |
| Length | 440 ft (130 m) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Kortes Reservoir |
| Surface area | 83 acres (34 ha) |
Kortes Dam (National ID # WY01294) is a large structure built across the North Platte River in Carbon County, Wyoming. Its main job is to help create electricity for people. This dam is an important part of how we get power from water.
Contents
Building Kortes Dam
Kortes Dam is a type of dam called a concrete gravity dam. This means it uses its own heavy weight to hold back the water. Building the dam started in 1946 and finished in 1951. It took five years to complete this big project.
The dam stands 244 feet (about 74 meters) tall. That's taller than a 20-story building! It is also 440 feet (about 134 meters) long across the top. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation built and still runs Kortes Dam. This government agency manages water and power projects across the United States.
How Kortes Dam Makes Power
Kortes Dam is used to make hydroelectric power. This is a clean way to create electricity using the force of moving water. Water from the North Platte River flows through the dam. This moving water spins giant turbines, which are like big fans. The spinning turbines then power generators that make electricity.
Kortes Dam is part of a much larger plan called the Pick–Sloan Missouri Basin Program. This program helps manage water resources across a huge area. Kortes Dam works together with other dams, like the bigger Seminoe Dam, which is less than two miles upstream.
Kortes Reservoir
When Kortes Dam holds back the river, it creates a body of water called Kortes Reservoir. This reservoir is quite small, covering about 83 acres (34 hectares). It is located in a narrow area known as the Black Canyon.
Because the reservoir is in a tight canyon, it doesn't have places for boats. Also, it is not stocked with fish. This means you won't find many fish here for fishing.
Fun Near the Dam: Miracle Mile
Even though Kortes Reservoir isn't for fishing, the river area just below the dam is very popular! This five-and-a-half-mile stretch of river is known as the "Miracle Mile Area." It goes from the base of Kortes Dam down to the Pathfinder Reservoir.
The Miracle Mile is famous for fishing. You can find different types of trout here, like brown trout, cutthroat trout, and rainbow trout. There are also walleye. Along this river section, you can find eleven simple camping areas. It's a great spot for outdoor adventures and enjoying nature.
