Key Takeaways
- Hoover Dam was constructed between 1931 and 1936, taking 5 years to complete ahead of schedule.
- The dam required 3,250,000 cubic yards of concrete, equivalent to a 2-lane highway from San Francisco to New York City.
- Over 21,000 workers were employed at peak construction, with a workforce averaging 5,251 men daily.
- Hoover Dam cost $49 million to build, repaid by power revenues by 1987.
- Annual power revenues average $150 million since 2000.
- The dam enabled $1 trillion in economic activity since 1936.
- The Hoover Dam generates up to 2,080 megawatts of power.
- Annual energy production averages 4.2 billion kilowatt-hours.
- Seventeen main turbines produce 680 MW each in the Nevada wing.
- The dam's base is 660 feet thick, tapering to 45 feet at the crest.
- Hoover Dam's crest length is 1,244 feet (379 meters) across the top.
- The structural height from riverbed to crest is 726.4 feet (221.3 meters).
- Lake Mead holds 28.23 million acre-feet at capacity.
- Maximum water surface elevation is 1,229 feet above MSL.
- Minimum power pool elevation is 1,050 feet.
Built from 1931 to 1936, Hoover Dam quickly became a powerhouse and lifeline for water and electricity.
Related reading
Construction History
Construction History Interpretation
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Economic and Visitor Stats
Economic and Visitor Stats Interpretation
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Power Production
Power Production Interpretation
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Structural Dimensions
Structural Dimensions Interpretation
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Water Storage and Flow
Water Storage and Flow Interpretation
How We Rate Confidence
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
Marcus Engström. (2026, February 13). Hoover Dam Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/hoover-dam-statistics
Marcus Engström. "Hoover Dam Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/hoover-dam-statistics.
Marcus Engström. 2026. "Hoover Dam Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/hoover-dam-statistics.
Sources & References
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usbr.gov
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en.wikipedia.org
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nps.gov
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asce.org
- Reference 9WATERDATAwaterdata.usgs.gov
waterdata.usgs.gov
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britannica.com
- Reference 11LVVWDlvvwd.com
lvvwd.com
- Reference 12DOIdoi.gov
doi.gov
- Reference 13POWER-TECHNOLOGYpower-technology.com
power-technology.com
- Reference 14REVIEWJOURNALreviewjournal.com
reviewjournal.com
- Reference 15LAKEMEADNATIONALRECREATIONAREAlakemeadnationalrecreationarea.com
lakemeadnationalrecreationarea.com
- Reference 16USGSusgs.gov
usgs.gov
- Reference 17BOULDERCITYbouldercity.com
bouldercity.com
- Reference 18ENERGYenergy.gov
energy.gov
- Reference 19HISTORYhistory.navy.mil
history.navy.mil
- Reference 20LASVEGASADVISORlasvegasadvisor.com
lasvegasadvisor.com
- Reference 21HOOVERSKYWALKhooverskywalk.com
hooverskywalk.com
- Reference 22FRASERINSTITUTEfraserinstitute.org
fraserinstitute.org







