The sparkling blue waters of Lake Powell, surrounded by towering red cliffs, attract millions of tourists every year, not only from the United States, but from all over the world. This place is truly special and unique. Tourists from all over the world come here to admire the breathtaking scenery and enjoy numerous sports, including canoeing and motorboating, water skiing, as well as fishing and scuba diving. Anyone who has been here at least once will tell you that this is exactly the place that everyone should visit at least once in their life.
The history of the lake
Lake Powell is the second largest artificial lake in the United States of America. It was created after the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam, the second largest dam on the Colorado River, which began in 1956. Construction lasted almost ten years and was completed only in 1966. The lake was named after the American explorer and military leader John Wesley Powell, who led an expedition to the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon in 1869. It was one of the largest expeditions of the century. Before the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam, the Colorado River dominated here.
This river is considered one of the most intricate waterways in the northern hemisphere. It meanders through the states of Utah and Arizona for hundreds of miles. Major Powell began his expedition to Green River City, Wyoming, and walked down the river to the mouth of the Virgin River in Arizona near the Grand Canyon. Lieutenant Joseph Ives followed almost the same path before him in 1858, noting the following in his diary: “Our party was the first and undoubtedly the last to visit these empty and barren lands. It seems that nature deliberately created the Colorado River so that it will forever remain untouched and unattractive to people. "
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Lake Powell in numbers
Lake Powell stretches from the Glen Canyon Dam in Arizona up the Colorado River through Utah. Its total length is 186 miles. Including numerous canyons (96 in total), Lake Powell has a coastline of over 2,000 miles, the largest of the western coast of the United States. The total area of Lake Powell and the surrounding Glen Canyon National Park is 1,932 square miles. 13% of this area is covered with water. When the lake is completely filled with water, the depth of individual sections can reach 170.5 meters. As a rule, the water in the lake rises from the end of April and reaches its peak by the beginning of July. The rest of the year, for the most part, the water level decreases.
The main sources of water for the lake are four rivers: Colorado, San Juan, the Dirty Devil River and the Escalante River. Glen Canyon originated from the Colorado River about five million years ago. The Colorado Plateau itself was formed eleven million years ago. The rocks that form this plateau are of volcanic origin and are more than 300 million years old. The dam is 710 feet above river level. The dam provides water and power to much of the southwestern United States. It is the largest facility on the Colorado River and provides relatively inexpensive power to small rural power plants, government agencies, and small towns in Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico.
The total capacity of eight generators located here is 1.3 million kilowatts. Downstream states use water from the reservoir for agricultural work, allowing the arid lands of the southwest to grow fruits and vegetables. It took 17 years to completely fill the canyons with water. It happened in 1980. It is the second largest artificial reservoir in the country and holds 27 million acre of water. Despite its natural beauty, the construction of the dam and lake was very controversial, as it negatively affected the biological balance of the Colorado River and the environment in general.
A huge number of rare plants and animals living in this area died. In addition, the presence of humans on the lake has led to the emergence of new fish, such as striped bass, which are bred here specifically for fishing. These fish, not native to these places, almost completely ousted other fish species from here. Whole Indian settlements were also destroyed. The lake was originally created to provide water to the western United States. However, the construction of the dam has spurred the development of several states through the construction of new roads and new infrastructure.
Information for tourists
Not only the truly enormous size of the reservoir and the close proximity of many national parks, but also the untouched landscape and amazing silence make tourists come back here again and again. Apart from a few authorized hotels and restaurants, you will not find large structures here that spoil the coastline and the beautiful views of this natural wonder. The nearest hotels and shops are 20 minutes away by car. More than three million tourists visit the Glen Canyon National Park Recreation Area every year.
The average length of stay is 4.5 days. The surreal landscape, with a crystal clear lake surrounded by colorful canyons, peaks and hills, attracts visitors from all over the world and is a favorite destination for photographers and filmmakers. In particular, well-known films such as "Planet of the Apes", "Maverick" and "Gravity" were shot here. The most popular site on Lake Powell is the Rainbow Bridge, recognized as a National Monument and the largest natural bridge on earth. This bridge was of sacred importance to the Navajo Indians living in these territories.
Hundreds of thousands of tourists come here every year to admire these graceful stone arches, located 50 nautical miles from Wouep Marina. The bridge can be easily reached by tourist or private boats. Before the lake formed here, the bridge could only be reached on foot or by horse, having traveled thousands of miles across the endless desert. However, even now, some brave tourists decide to walk here.
This trip usually takes 2 to 3 hours, depending on the physical fitness of the person. Due to the fact that the lake is located on the territory of several states at once, there are also several time zones here. The climate here is quite varied. In summer, in June and July, temperatures rise to 43 degrees Celsius. In winter, in December and January, the temperature at night can drop to -20 degrees Celsius.
Park opening hours and when is the best time to go
The national park and lake are open to tourists all year round. There are especially many tourists here during the summer months. Activities on the lake include two tourist centers, five marinas, a permanent dock for more than two thousand private boats, apartment complexes, restaurants and campgrounds. It even has its own museum, which tells about the history of the formation of this area and the formation of Lake Powell.
Visitors are also encouraged to rent houseboats and motor boats, go fishing and water sports including canoeing, water skiing and diving. Tourists are also available sightseeing tours, flights over the lake by plane and travel along the Colorado River by boat. In addition, there are a huge number of wild and unexplored beaches where you can take a break from noisy and crowded cities.Without a doubt, a trip to this untouched corner of the earth will be remembered for a long time, and the remaining unforgettable memories will make you come back here more than once.
Another interesting place in the USA is Badlands.
Lake Powell is a truly unique place that will amaze anyone who visits it with its beauty. Once you come here, you will want to come back again and again to enjoy every corner of this amazing place. Unusual stone castles created by nature, bright red arches and columns against the backdrop of blue skies and lakes are especially mesmerizing in daylight. Most of these places have never been touched by a human foot, and there is only one way to get to them - by water. This place is ideal for those who are tired of bustling cities and want to be alone with nature, enjoying its beauty and splendor.
I also recommend that you familiarize yourself with still no less unique places - Plitvice Lakes in Croatia, Lake Nakuru in Kenya. Believe me, they are simply amazing!
