Glines Canyon Dam, Historic dam site in Olympic National Park, United States.
Glines Canyon Dam was a concrete arch structure that spanned the Elwha River valley and generated electricity from 1927 onward. The installation created an artificial lake and served as a major power source for the region for decades.
The dam was built as a concrete arch structure in the 1920s to supply power to the growing region. After 87 years of operation, it was completely removed, allowing the Elwha to flow freely once again.
The site once represented industrial progress along the Elwha River and shaped regional engineering practices. Today, visitors see how communities navigate the balance between infrastructure development and ecological restoration.
The site is reached by a hiking trail of approximately 3 miles from a nearby parking area. The path winds through forested terrain and ends at an overlook above the canyon.
The dam was systematically dismantled between 2011 and 2014 in one of the largest deconstruction projects worldwide. The effort restored one of the longest salmon migration routes in the country.
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