Pathfinder Dam, Gravity dam in Natrona County, Wyoming, US.
Pathfinder Dam is a gravity structure made of granite blocks that spans across the North Platte River in this highland area. The structure impounds water that serves irrigation needs across a wide agricultural region in Wyoming and Nebraska.
The United States Bureau of Reclamation built this structure between 1905 and 1909 as part of water management plans for the North Platte Project. The completed dam allowed irrigation across previously limited agricultural areas in the developing region.
The name refers to John Charles Fremont, a general who led expeditions through Wyoming during the mid-1800s. Today visitors can see how this solid granite structure has become a defining landmark in this highland landscape.
The area around the dam is accessible and offers fishing and boating opportunities on the impounded water. The best time to visit is during warmer months when the roads are easiest to travel and water levels are typically higher.
Engineers developed innovative construction methods here including the Arch-and-Crown Cantilever technique that was later used in other dam projects. These advances made the building process more efficient and safer than earlier approaches.
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