The road between Las Vegas and Kingman is a lonely one, cutting it's way through the mountains and then shoots across the desert in a near straight line, with few towns or anything else. There is an exception however: the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead.
The Hoover Dam, as seen from the new Hwy 93 bridge
Built in the 1930's, the Hoover Dam is fairly modest in size compared with more modern dams, but it's dramatic setting, design and accessibility certainly make it the most famous. It's built straight across a deep rocky canyon, smooth concrete meeting jagged rock cliffs along the edges. It was built on the Arizona-Nevada border along the Colorado River (the same river that winds though the Grand Canyon, further upstream), and created Lake Mead behind it.
Looking across at the Nevada side
Looking straight down the face towards to hydroelectric station
The concrete wall formed against the rocky canyon cliff
The most stark thing about Lake Mead is how low the water level is. Both the lake and dam are under increasing pressure due to ever increasing demand for fresh water and hydro electricity, and the water level is an ongoing concern.
Lake Mead, behind the dam. The low water level is evident by the white ring of mineral deposits left on the cliff during previous higher water heights
The main road between Arizona and Nevada used to go over the top of the dam, but last year a new bridge was opened just downstream of the dam, offering some dramatic views both of the dam and the bridge itself.
After the dam, heading back to Kingman where we left Route 66, we were treated to some more fabulous scenery, this time accompanied by dark clouds and lightning.
The road to Kingman, Hwy 93, winds and cuts its way through the hills
Some impressive storm clouds approached us on the drive back to Kingman, but we made it back just in time before the weather deteriorated
Tonight in Kingman, we got a room at another Route 66 classic with beautiful neon sign: the Hill Top Motel. The accommodation is perfectly fine, but it couldn't have provided a greater contrast to our room in Las Vegas. We have gone from a suite with three flat screen TVs, his and hers sinks, a giant sofa and remote control curtains to a motel room straight out of the 1970s, with wood panelling, separate wall heating and AC units, and a tube TV with dodgy picture quality. It certainly had been a day of contrasts.
Not quite Vegas, but it will do
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