Olympus Dam facts for kids

Olympus Dam is a large structure built across the Big Thompson River in Estes Park, Colorado. It creates a big lake called Lake Estes. This lake is super important because it provides most of the drinking water for the people living in Estes Park. The dam was built a long time ago, between 1947 and 1949.

What is Olympus Dam For?

Olympus Dam helps control the flow of the Big Thompson River. It holds back water to form Lake Estes. This lake acts like a giant storage tank for water.

Supplying Water to Estes Park

The main job of Olympus Dam and Lake Estes is to make sure Estes Park has enough clean drinking water. Water from the lake is treated and then sent to homes and businesses in the town. It's a vital part of the community's water supply.

Part of a Bigger Plan

Olympus Dam is also a key part of something called the Colorado-Big Thompson Project. This huge project moves water from the western side of the Rocky Mountains to the drier eastern side. It helps provide water for farms, cities, and even generates electricity across a large part of Colorado. Olympus Dam helps manage the water flow for this important system.

How Big is Olympus Dam?

Olympus Dam is a pretty big structure! It stands about 70 feet tall, which is like a seven-story building.

• Its top, called the crest, is 10 feet wide.
• The bottom of the dam is much wider, about 49.5 feet across, to make it strong and stable.
• The dam stretches 320 feet long across the river.

These measurements show how much engineering goes into building a dam that can hold back so much water safely.

History of Olympus Dam

The idea for Olympus Dam came from the need to manage water resources in Colorado. The state often faces dry conditions, so projects like this are essential.

Building the Dam

Construction on Olympus Dam began in 1947 and finished in 1949. Building a dam is a massive undertaking. It involves moving huge amounts of earth and rock, pouring concrete, and carefully planning how the water will be controlled. The people who built Olympus Dam worked hard to create this important structure that still serves the community today.