Glen Canyon Dam, Concrete arch dam in Page, Arizona.
Glen Canyon Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam on the Colorado River near Page, Arizona, 710 feet (220 m) high and built from 1956 to 1966. Its pale grey face curves between steep rock walls, marked by vertical seams, with a flat crest carrying a metal railing and small structures. Two rectangular concrete blocks protrude partway down the face, and a long, low concrete building with recessed bays sits at the base.
The Bureau of Reclamation built the structure between 1956 and 1966 to distribute water among states in the upper and lower Colorado River basins. Before the flooding, the site was Glen Canyon, a deep gorge with many side canyons and archaeological places.
The dam is named for Glen Canyon, the sandstone gorges now submerged beneath Lake Powell, itself named for John Wesley Powell, who in 1869 led the first boat expedition through the Grand Canyon. The reservoir's houseboating, fishing and water skiing draw millions of visitors yearly to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
The visit includes a viewing area on the bridge next to the structure and a visitor center on the west shore. The site sits beside US Highway 89, easily reached from Page.
The released water from deep in the reservoir stays cold all year, creating habitat below the structure for rainbow trout. This temperature stability draws anglers from across the region to the riverbanks.
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