Photos: Lake Powell (Glen Canyon National Park)

June 15th, 2005

After spending a couple days in Utah, we headed back to the Arizona border for the oasis in the desert. A few interesting facts, Lake Powell has more shoreline than the west coast of the US. It is of course a man made lake, and one of several key reservours in and around Arizona to help collect the winter runoff of water so we have an adequate supply in the summer. This, like many other area lakes have been very low - last year it was about 150 feet low, thanks to the drought. That's a heckuva lot of water! This year the level has climbed and at the time of the photos the lake is about only about 40 feet low - not too shabby for a one year comeback.






Me, looking out over the lake. I particularly like this picture, I guess it captured my mood very well.


Glen Canyon Dam. Construction on the dam began in 1956, and was not completed until 10 years later. The damn has not yet paid for itself (by sale of electricity), but should within 10 years.


Just a few boats out on the lake.


But still plenty of open waters.


A view of the entire dam. At the base, the dam is 300 feet deep, at the top it is only 25 feet deep. It is about 587 feet tall. A very controversial project, as it not only flooded Glen Canyon, but also disturbs the natural flow of water through the Colorado. In recent times they have adjusted the release of water to more naturally simulate occasional flooding to help keep the downstream ecosystem in check.


The Colorado river, flowing out of the lake.


We took a boat tour around the lake. Along the tour we saw this actual real steamboat - that is, the paddle wheel on the back actually does move the boat, and it is the only thing to move the boat. Word has it that a school teacher built the boat, quit his job and now gives tours.


One of the many fingers of the canyon. You can see where the rock changes from white to red, is where the top of the water level "normally" resides.


More of the canyon.


The dam from the lake, and highway 89 in the background.


As the sun was setting... I really like the scattered clouds in this picture.


Sunset...


Another picture of the lake with the boats on it at twilight.


Boats, and the sunset... it seems so peaceful!