About Las Vegas' Hoover Dam

Believe it or not I am enjoying the “much needed” Las Vegas rain. Hopefully it isn’t a newsflash to anyone we have been in a drought for around a decade. The Las Vegas Sun is reporting that “western slope snowpack is 145% of normal” right now. Snowpack is more important than the rain itself which has only raised Lake Mead’s level’s 2/10 of an inch (it’s down 130 feet), according to the Las Vegas Sun.

Aside from that I thought that stores would be dead Monday morning but it seemed to have brought out shoppers in all places I was at: Target (Flamingo/Hualapai), Ulta (Arroyo) & Bed, Bath & Beyond (Arroyo). That’s also great news for our pitiful economy I suppose!

According to weather.gov’s map: my area has received 3-4 inches since Saturday (my pool is filled to the brim and we need a respite so we don’t have to drain a couple of inches of it!) Sprinklers are off and unless we have an unusual hot spell between now and the new year they won’t go on until the first week of January!

Las Vegas isn’t exactly equipped with storm sewers (like the midwest) and there are large pools of water – especially in and around the newer areas like Mountain’s Edge. We also don’t have lakes or creeks (pronounced “cricks” alright?) We have detention basins and washes (pronounced “warsh”!) You rarely see water in those washes or basins. Here is a photo I took of the detention basin at Durango & Russell today:

It has been a little rough getting around for BPOs this week with cars not seeing big puddles and hydroplaning but the up side is that no one is outside wondering why I am taking a photo of their house

And one more thing that I can be thankful for: IT AIN’T SNOW! ;)

Vegas Bob & Sherry driving over the "Hoover Dam" in Nevada ...

If anyone of you have ever been to the "Hoover Dam" in Nevada you know it is a site to see. Along with the history of building the "Hoover Dam" and the men & women that helped build it makes it quite amazing.

Here is a short Video that was taken out the front & drivers side windows as Sherry and I drove slowly across the "Hoover Dam".

I also captured the new Bridge that divides the State of Arizona & Nevada ...

Mike O'Callaghan - Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge by "Hoover Dam" in Nevada Video by Robert Swetz (Vegas Bob) - All rights reserved - 11-6-2010

Hoover Dam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Here is a short Video of the "Hoover Dam" and the new bridge that separates the State of Arizona & Nevada. They have been working on this bridge for many many years and I am wondering what the real reason was for building this bridge? I would have to say for the HUGE semi trucks running to Vegas to back bring produce, etc.

And as for terrorist's ... when this new bridge won't stop them!

Until a road or highway is constructed to bypass Boulder City I feel the bridge was a waste of time and money. There are more tourist's now then there was before going to "Hoover Dam" and now the bridge ...

This has to be one of the most expensive views I have seen in a long time ... 240 Million Dollars worth!

Have you ever been to "Lake Mead" in Nevada?

If you have ever been to Lake Mead in Nevada only 30 minutes from Las Vegas you will be able to relate to this post. And if you never have been to Lake Mead it is a (Must See), I was there Sunday afternoon taking some photographs and it was about 80 degrees out by the lake and it was beautiful.

Here are some stats on Lake Mead below and several photographs I took, I will be posting another story with some very unusual photographs I captured while experimenting with my camera.

Encompassing 1.5 million acres, Lake Mead National Recreation Area features two large reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Mohave. Lake Mead, the larger of the two lakes, covers approximately 247 square miles and boasts 550 miles of shoreline.

Attracting nearly eight million visitors annually, Lake Mead is a popular spot for boating, water-skiing, swimming, and fishing. Its surrounding desert is home to rock formations and diverse flora and fauna, which reward hikers and photographers.

Originally called Boulder Dam Recreation Area, the park's name honors Dr. Elwood Mead, the U.S. Reclamation Commissioner between 1924 and 1936. The Alan Bible Visitor Center, located four miles east of Boulder City, provides visitors pertinent information about the recreation area. It also displays interactive, hands-on exhibits that help visitors discover the Mojave Desert.

Located approximately 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas, the recreation area boasts eight marinas, which offer boat and house boat rentals. The park is also home to eight campgrounds and five RV campgrounds with hookups.

Operating Hours & Seasons:
Open year round, 24 hours a day. The visitor center is open daily, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Admission: $5 per vehicle

These photographs were taken when the sun was setting and if you look real close you can see a couple figures of people and look how small they are compared to a very, very small part of Lake Mead.

Lake Mead is so big and beautiful that it is a photographers haven and you could go down to Lake Mead day after day, week end after week end and never run out of different scenes to photograph.

All photographs taken by Robert Swetz and duplication of any kind is prohibited without written permission from Robert Swetz

Lake Mead Nevada 11-22-2009

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New Bridge at Hoover Dam in Nevada (Must see)!

They have been working on this bridge for many, many years and there have been some serious problems.

When you first catch a view of the new bridge being built it looks like a shot from "War of the Worlds"!

And the size of this bridge is amazing and a very fascinating sight to see!

These photograph were taken at sunset 6-13-2009 on my drive back from Arizona.

Photographs taken by: Robert Swetz and copyright infringements apply, please don't duplicate without written permission from Robert Swetz

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