Ten minutes to write. Less time to read.

Note: Wireless Internet is a good thing, when it works. I posted the following blog in Las Vegas, but learned later it never made it out of my computer. AB

While we came to visit the glitz that is Las Vegas, we also came to visit the governmental project known as Hoover Dam, a monumental engineering project of the early twentieth century that brought electricity and irrigation to seven western states. This project is as far from glitz as A is from Z.

Yet, it is just as impressive. Hoover Dam created the largest man-made lake in the United States, tamed the mighty Colorado River, created jobs for thousands of men during the Depression, and ultimately shaped not only the glamour of Las Vegas but also the geographical uses for the surrounding areas.

Unlike most dams, water does not run down one side of it. Rather, the dam is more like a beaver construction that, when completed, stops the flow of water and forces it to back. So when the dam was constructed, water from the Colorado River was forced to pool on one side of it and create Lake Mead which, in turn, created electricity for the area. Giant generators in the heart of the dam help the process.

We spent yesterday roaming the various hotels on the Strip in Las Vegas. Many of them are certainly marvels not just because of their architectural craziness but equally because they bring jobs, tourists, and revenues to the community. But today we toured a man-made marvel that was more years in the making than any modern hotel. It too changed the area, so I’m hard pressed to say which is more important.

One thing stands out: Today’s Las Vegas probably wouldn’t exist without yesterday’s vision for Hoover Dam and Lake Mead. Yet, without today’s Las Vegas, the local area might not be as prosperous.