Lake Powell on the Colorado River in USA โ photo, description, map
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 globe come here to admire the breathtaking scenery and enjoy the many sports including canoeing, powerboating, 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 a lifetime.
History of the lake
Lake Powell is the second largest man-made lake in the United States of America. It was created following the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam, the second largest on the Colorado River, which began in 1956. Construction lasted almost ten years and was completed only in 1966. The lake was named after American explorer and military figure 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. Prior to the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam, the Colorado River dominated here.
This river is considered one of the most intricate water arteries in the northern hemisphere. It meanders through Utah and Arizona for hundreds of miles. Major Powell began his expedition in Green River City, Wyoming, and followed the river down to the mouth of the Virgin River in Arizona near the Grand Canyon. Before him, Lieutenant Joseph Ives in 1858 followed almost the same path, noting the following in his diary: โOur detachment was the first and, undoubtedly, the last to visit these empty and barren lands. It seems that nature deliberately created the Colorado River in such a way that it would forever remain untouched and unattractive to people.
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Lake Powell in numbers
Lake Powell stretches from Glen Canyon Dam in Arizona up the Colorado River through Utah. Its total length is 186 miles. Including numerous canyons (there are 96 in total), Lake Powell's shoreline is over 2,000 miles long, the longest on the west coast of the United States. The combined area of โโLake Powell and nearby Glen Canyon National Park is 1,932 square miles. 13% of this area is covered by 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. During the rest of the year, for the most part, the water level decreases.
The main sources of water for the lake are four rivers: the Colorado, the San Juan, the Dirty Devil River, and the Escalante River. Glen Canyon was created by the Colorado River about five million years ago. The Colorado Plateau itself 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 the 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 supplies relatively inexpensive power to small rural power plants, government offices and small towns in Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico.
The total capacity of the eight generators located here is 1.3 million kilowatts. Downstream states use the reservoir water for agricultural work, allowing the drylands of the Southwest Territory to grow fruits and vegetables. It took as many as 17 years to completely fill the canyons with water. It happened in 1980. It is the second largest man-made body of water in the country, holding 27 million acre feet of water. Despite its natural beauty, the construction of the dam and lake caused a lot of controversy, as it negatively affected the biological balance of the Colorado River and the environment as a whole.
A huge number of rare plants and animals living in this area died. In addition, the presence of man on the lake has led to the emergence of new fish, such as striped bass, which are bred here specifically for fishing. These fish, which are not native to these places, have almost completely replaced other fish species from here. Entire Indian settlements were also destroyed. The lake was originally created to provide water to the western parts of the United States. However, the construction of the dam has given impetus to the development of several states through the construction of new roads and new infrastructure.
Information for tourists
Not only the truly huge 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. Other than a few authorized hotels and restaurants, you won't find any large structures ruining the coastline and beautiful views of this natural wonder. The nearest hotels and shops are 20 minutes away by car. Each year, more than three million tourists visit the Glen Canyon National Park Recreation Area.
The average length of their 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 filmed 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 had a sacred meaning for the Navajo Indians living in these territories.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of tourists come here to admire these graceful stone arcs, located 50 nautical miles from the Wauep Marina resort. The bridge can be easily reached by tourist or private boats. Before the lake formed here, the only way to get to the bridge was on foot or on horseback, walking thousands of miles across the endless desert. However, even now some brave tourists decide to walk here.
Such a journey usually takes from 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, the temperature rises to 43 degrees Celsius. In winter, in December and January, the temperature at night can drop to -20 degrees Celsius.
Park opening hours and best time to go
The national park and lake are open to tourists all year round. There are especially many tourists here in the summer months. Leisure activities on the lake include two tourist centers, five marinas, a permanent mooring for more than two thousand private boats, residential complexes, restaurants and campsites. It even has its own museum that tells about the history of the formation of this area and the formation of Lake Powell.
Visitors can also rent houseboats and motor boats, go fishing and enjoy water sports including canoeing, water skiing and diving. Tourists also have access to sightseeing tours, flights over the lake by plane and boat trips along the Colorado River. In addition, there are a huge number of wild and unexplored beaches where you can relax 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 the Badlands.
Lake Powell is a truly unique place, striking in its beauty to anyone who manages to visit here. 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 blue sky and the lake are especially fascinating in daylight. Most of these places have never been set foot by a person, and there is only one way to get to them โ 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 even less unique places โ Plitvice Lakes in Croatia, Lake Nakuru in Kenya. Believe me, they are simply amazing!