Dam!
 

While out West this week, I passed by a bad accident on a section of highway involving a semi and a high voltage tower. The tower began to lean after being struck...

[lean]

...okay, not really. But I did get to visit the Hoover Dam, where these braced towers carry power up from the generators below.

There is some truly cool art deco stuff there, too.

The most amazing "hum" in the world -- these massive turbines that power Las Vegas and a lot of Los Angeles.

The dam itself, which wouldn't agree with any lenses I had. The thing is too huge! Can you tell they've been in a bit of a draught, lately? The news said it is the worst in recorded history.

The structure is simply beautiful, not to mention all of the art laid into it and monuments scattered around the top. I was struck speechless by this monstrosity because it seems that building such a thing is impossible. The amount of water it holds back? "Enough to cover the entire state of Pennsylvainia in one foot of water or the state of Connecticut in ten feet."

It was disheartening to hear so many tourists state how unimpressed they were with the dam and how they really wanted their ten dollars back. Unappreciative assholes.

How hot is it out there? Too hot. I have no idea how any of you people that live out West tolerate it. I don't mind the heat, but its too damn dry! These huge glass thermometers are placed everywhere, reminding you that you are suffering in heat usually reserved for worlds closer to the sun.

Hell, I'll take dry heat over humidity anyday (although now, my neuropathy makes it hard to stay out in the sun and tolerate heat anyway).

Nice shots especially the braced towers (the angle is amazing and nice touch with the flag in the shot) :thumb:

you do realize that the gubmint will be tracking your movements now that you've taken photos of that dam?

Dam fine pictures, Kitsune!

And although I don't think it is the most amazing 'hum' in the world, it will have to do, eh?

you do realize that the gubmint will be tracking your movements now that you've taken photos of that dam?

They are quite serious about security there, these days. The "hard hat tours" they used to give now appear to be absent from the listings, the road has pop-up roadblocks to prevent vehicles from getting through, and all large vehicles are searched even though none of them (busses, RVs, semis) are permitted to drive over the dam.

I really wish I had been able to go on the hard hat tour, because they supposedly took you through tunnels at the spillway and through other levels of the structure. Even with metal detectors, etc, they don't seem to be taking any chances these days.

...and with as much water as that thing is holding back, I fully understand it.

No RV's over the dam? Shit it's a long way around.:(
Nice pictures, although you left out the obligatory shot of the tailraces.:haha:
The labyrinth of tunnels, pipes and passages is quite amazing. I've seen the History Channel show on the building as least 20 times, and still sit enthralled when it comes on.
I had a chance to climb down into the swirl cage the turbine sits in (below the generator) at Grand Coulee Dam. Amazing.:)

If you're on a decent connection and want to see an overview of Lake Meade that I stitched together, fear the big file:

Lake Meade Panorama (JPG ~2.06Mb)

Cool, and worth the download!

Kitsune, that's just bloody awesome. Kudos and a half! Well done.

Ah, its easy to do. Stand still, spin around, take pictures, then push the images into this: Panorama Factory