Hoover Dam
A massive concrete arch dam on the Colorado River in Black Canyon.
Project at a glance
| Location | Black Canyon, Colorado River, Nevada–Arizona border, USA |
|---|---|
| Owner / agency | U.S. Bureau of Reclamation |
| Completed / opened | 1936 |
| Sector | Dams and water |
| Height | 726.4 ft (about 221 m), foundation rock to crest |
| Concrete in dam | 3.25 million cubic yards |
Construction technology used
- Built as separate vertical columns of concrete blocks rather than one continuous pour, so the heat of setting could escape.
- 1-inch steel cooling pipes cast into the concrete carried cold water to remove that heat.
- After cooling, the joints between columns were grouted so the dam acts as one monolithic structure.
Design and construction challenges
- Heat produced by setting concrete in such a large mass had to be removed to prevent cracking.
Key facts
- Built 1931–1936.
Learn the engineering behind it
- Types of dams · Dams and Hydraulic Structures
- Gravity dam forces · Dams and Hydraulic Structures
- Curing · Concrete Technology
Watch on YouTube
Sources
Facts on this page are taken only from official or authoritative sources (owner agencies, government releases, designers and contractors) and written in our own words. A figure is shown only when we could confirm it from at least two of the sources below; anything we could not confirm is left out. Spotted an error? Tell us.
Author: Indiacon. Last reviewed 24 Oct 2026. Educational summary; not an official project document.