Hoover Dam Collapse Myth Dispelled: Las Vegas would not be Flooded
Warning: The suggestion that the Hoover Dam would cause Las Vegas to flood if it collapsed is completely false. Let's debunk this myth.
Suppose the Hoover Dam were to collapse. It's important to note that this scenario is highly improbable, even in the case of a significant earthquake or attack. According to geological experts, the devastation of the billion-dollar dam would have little impact on Las Vegas.
Here's why:
The Geography
First, it's crucial to understand where Las Vegas is located. It's not downstream from the Hoover Dam; rather, it's approximately 35 miles northwest of the dam. Additionally, Las Vegas sits at an elevation of about 800 feet higher than the dam itself.
Therefore, a complete collapse of the Hoover Dam wouldn't result in a flood that would submerge the Las Vegas Strip.
The Flooding Impact
While Lake Mead currently holds only 34% of its maximum capacity, this still equates to more than 3 trillion gallons of water. If this immense volume were released all at once, it would cover around 10 million acres of land (about the size of New Jersey) with water, assuming an even distribution.
However, gravity would actually cause the water to flow southward, following the Colorado River's natural path. This would make the floodwall much taller and more destructive.
The resulting wall of water would likely flood communities like Laughlin, Nevada; Bullhead City, Arizona; Lake Havasu City, Arizona; and Yuma, Arizona, among others. It would also empty into the Gulf of California at the foot of Mexico's Baja Peninsula.
The Destruction
Tens of thousands of lives could be lost, and 2 million acres of farmland would be destroyed. However, this land would be practically useless for farming given the lack of water.
Additionally, the flood would devastate infrastructure, such as bridges, roads, railways, power lines, pipelines, and dams, including seven smaller dams: Alamo, Parker, Headgate Rock, Palo Verde, Imperial, Laguna, and Morelos.
Moreover, the destruction of Lake Mead would have a significant impact on the ecosystem, damaging or killing wildlife that had adapted to rely on the controlled river flow. The collapse of the dam could even trigger earthquakes and landslides.
The Irrigation Dilemma
Although Las Vegas won't flood due to the collapse of the Hoover Dam, its water supply would still be severely affected. Today, Las Vegas relies on Lake Mead for 90% of its water. With the dam destroyed, Lake Mead would be completely empty.
Water officials estimate that another 350,000 acre feet of water, stored underground, provide the remaining 10% of the city's water. However, this water supply is far from sufficient. The city used 186,600 acre feet of water in 2023, and the aquifers would only supply enough water for two years at that rate.
So, while Las Vegas wouldn't flood, the consequences of a Hoover Dam collapse would severely impact the city's water supply and, ultimately, its survival.
Remember, this is purely a hypothetical scenario, and we should hope it will never become a reality.
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Source: www.casino.org
