Davis Dam, Embankment dam and hydroelectric station in Mohave County, Arizona.
Davis Dam is a 488-meter embankment across the Colorado River that stores water in Lake Mohave. Five turbines use the water's flow to generate electricity for communities throughout the Southwest.
Construction started in 1942 and finished in 1951 as part of an effort to manage water and power across the Southwest. The project followed an earlier dam built downstream, creating a system of water control along the river.
The dam was named after Arthur Powell Davis, a director of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, reflecting its importance in American water management. The lake it created has become central to how people in the region use water and spend their free time.
The visitor area at the dam offers good views and educational displays about power generation. The site is accessible by car, and spring and fall offer more comfortable weather for spending time outdoors.
The facility manages water that arrives from another dam upstream and releases it carefully to meet water commitments to Mexico. This role in cross-border water management makes it less visible than it should be to most visitors.
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