Just like beavers build dams to protect themselves, humans need to do the same. And in Arkansas, we have built a few dams over the years. But none as incredible as the Bull Shoals Dam, which is a true feat of engineering. It was once the fifth largest dam in America, and the story behind the construction is quite impressive.
Bull Shoals is a small resort town in northern Arkansas, but it has the largest dam and reservoir lake in the state.
Lindsey/TripAdvisor
After the completion of the dam, the town became a sought-after tourist destination. It is a major fishing and water activity hub in Northern Arkansas.
MarshallKe, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
The Bull Shoals Dam is a multipurpose hydroelectric dam situated along the White River.
Janet M/TripAdvisor At 256 feet high, 2,256 feet in length, and 220 feet wide, this structure is one of Arkansas’ engineering phenomena.
Prior to the construction of the dam, the White River valley was hit by a series of floods that caused numerous deaths.
Thurman J. Williams/Google In addition, the flooding destroyed personal property, as well as agricultural products.
Consequently, the federal government stepped in and granted the multi-million-dollar dam project to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Bull Shoals Dam - Ozark History
At first, the funding was insufficient to complete the flood control project, and there were objections from the local power company as well as Congress, about the cost benefits of the dam.
Bull Shoals Dam - Ozark History
Therefore, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed a multi-purpose dam and reservoir to be constructed.
Bull Shoals Dam - Ozark History After many discussions, debates, and meetings, the project finally got the green light and the funding that it needed.
Construction began in 1947 and ended in 1951, with a whopping 77-million-dollar price tag at completion.
Don…The UpNorth Memories Guy… Harrison/TripAdvisor Unfortunately, the project was delayed due to the war, and it was not easy to construct.
In fact, the Corps had to build the second longest conveyor belt in the world to transport the 2.1 million cubic yards of concrete needed for the project.
Don…The UpNorth Memories Guy… Harrison/TripAdvisor
After all the ups and downs, the dam along with the reservoir were finally completed in 1951.
David Wipf/Flickr The picture above was taken in 1958, seven years after completion.
When constructing one of the largest structures in America, there will be some obstacles along the way. But guess what, they got the job done!
Lindsey/TripAdvisor
MarshallKe, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Janet M/TripAdvisor
At 256 feet high, 2,256 feet in length, and 220 feet wide, this structure is one of Arkansas’ engineering phenomena.
Thurman J. Williams/Google
In addition, the flooding destroyed personal property, as well as agricultural products.
Bull Shoals Dam - Ozark History
After many discussions, debates, and meetings, the project finally got the green light and the funding that it needed.
Don…The UpNorth Memories Guy… Harrison/TripAdvisor
Unfortunately, the project was delayed due to the war, and it was not easy to construct.
David Wipf/Flickr
The picture above was taken in 1958, seven years after completion.
Today, the dam and reservoir serve as a hydroelectric hub providing six states with electric power. It is also a recreational area for locals and tourists to enjoy fishing and water activities.
So, do you understand why Bull Shoals Dam is a true feat of engineering? Tell us what you think in the comments below.
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Address: Bull Shoals Dam Boulevard, Bull Shoals Dam Blvd, Bull Shoals, AR, USA
