Rio Grande Dam facts for kids
The Rio Grande Dam is a large structure in Hinsdale County, Colorado. It holds back the water of the Rio Grande river, creating a big lake called the Rio Grande Reservoir. This dam was built a long time ago, between 1910 and 1914.
The main reason for building the dam was to help farmers in the San Luis Valley. It stores water that they can use to water their crops, which is called agriculture. The dam itself is made of earth and rock. It stands 111 ft (34 m) high and stretches 550 ft (170 m) long. The Rio Grande Reservoir can hold a huge amount of water, about 52,000 acre⋅ft (64,000,000 m3).
Location and Purpose
The Rio Grande Dam and its reservoir are located very high up in the mountains. They sit at an elevation of 9,449 ft (2,880 m). This spot is about 20 mi (32 km) southwest of a town called Creede. It's also quite close to where the Rio Grande river first begins, known as its headwaters.
The dam's main job is to manage the river's water. By storing water in the reservoir, it makes sure there's enough water for farming even during dry times. It also helps control the river's flow.
