Teton Dam facts for kids
The Teton Dam was a large dam built on the Teton River in Idaho, USA. When it was completed, it was about 945 meters (3,100 feet) long and 93 meters (305 feet) tall. This made it one of the biggest dams in the United States at that time. However, the dam is most famous for breaking apart. This happened during spring runoff on June 5, 1976, only a few months after it was finished. The huge flood that followed destroyed a lot of land and five cities.
The Teton Dam was never rebuilt. The U.S. Government spent $100 million to build the dam. But after it collapsed, they had to pay $300 million more to cover all the flood damages.
Contents
The Teton Dam Story
What Was the Teton Dam?
The Teton Dam was a big structure. It was built to hold back water from the Teton River. The dam was located in Idaho, a state in the United States. It was one of the largest dams in the country when it was finished.
The Day It Broke
On June 5, 1976, the Teton Dam collapsed. This happened during the spring when lots of snow was melting. The melting snow caused the river to rise. The dam could not hold the water back. A massive flood rushed out.
What Happened After?
The flood from the broken dam caused a lot of damage. It destroyed about 10,000 acres of land. Five cities were also badly damaged or completely ruined. Many people lost their homes and belongings. The U.S. government had to pay a lot of money to help people and repair the damage. Because of the high costs and the disaster, the dam was never built again.
Images for kids
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Rexburg flooded
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Large amounts of mud are now spilling down the face of the dam, unchecked by the efforts of the bulldozer operators. The outlet works at the foot of the dam are flooding with muddy water.
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The dam is now breached and muddy water flows violently over the dam face.
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The breach has now widened to nearly its full extent. The outlet works are completely inundated with muddy water.
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See also
In Spanish: Presa de Teton para niños
