Flaming Gorge Dam, Hydroelectric power station in Daggett County, Utah.
Flaming Gorge Dam is a concrete arch structure that rises 502 feet (153 meters) above the Green River bed and stretches 1,285 feet (392 meters) across the canyon in northern Utah. The powerhouse contains three turbines that generate electricity from water released through penstocks, while the structure also regulates downstream flow for irrigation and municipal use.
Construction began in 1958 as part of the Colorado River Storage Project and finished in 1964 to provide hydroelectric power and regulate water for irrigation downstream. Flooding the canyon created Flaming Gorge Reservoir, which extends 91 miles (146 kilometers) northward into Wyoming.
The reservoir behind the structure serves as a weekend destination for families from Wyoming and Utah who come to camp, fish for trout, and launch boats. Several overlooks along the shoreline provide views where visitors watch watercraft and observe the changing water levels throughout the seasons.
Guided tours of the facility explain turbine operations and water management systems throughout the year, with advance reservations recommended during summer months. A visitor center on the western shore offers maps, exhibits about the region, and access to viewpoints along the crest of the structure.
The section of the Green River below the structure holds one of the highest fish populations per mile in the country, drawing anglers from across multiple states. Cold water released from deeper layers of the reservoir creates conditions that favor trout species year-round.
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