Glen Canyon Dam, Concrete arch dam in Page, Arizona.
Glen Canyon Dam is an arch dam in Page, Arizona, that holds back the Colorado River and forms Lake Powell. The concrete wall curves between the red sandstone cliffs of the canyon and rests on foundations set deep into the riverbed.
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 concrete face of the structure sometimes carries reddish ochre sediment marks that recall the original canyon walls of the Colorado. Visitors from the viewing area see the smooth surface of the reservoir extending far into what were once rock formations.
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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