For much of its length the Colorado River flows through some of the driest areas and the most spectacular scenery of the USA. Impressive locations such as the Grand Canyon and Horseshoe Bend in Glen Canyon have been eroded into the Colorado Plateau by this river. In the desert states the Colorado River is a great source of water, and enormous dams have been built along its length to make use of this resource.
The first dam, the Hoover Dam, was completed in 1936. It is 265 metres high and created the giant Lake Mead. It was followed by the Glen Canyon, Davis, Parker and Imperial dams, each with an enormous lake behind it. Lake Powell behind Glen Canyon Dam, for example, is 300 km long. These dams are dualpurpose, supplying both electricity and water to the desert cities and being used for irrigation.
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