The Oahe Dam is the second largest dam on the Missouri River, and the
15th largest earth fill dam on the planet. In comparison, it contains
more than twice the fill material as the Aswan High Dam on the Nile
The Oahe Dam is the second largest dam on the Missouri River, and the
15th largest earth fill dam on the planet. In comparison, it contains
more than twice the fill material as the Aswan High Dam on the Nile River.
Lake Oahe extends for 231 miles up river towards Bismarck, North Dakota,
and has 2,250 miles of shoreline.
Construction of the dam was authorized in 1944 by an act of Congress.
The US Army Corps of Engineers began work on the project in 1948. Early
work included the relocation of towns, bridges, and roads that would
eventually be flooded out. The dam was closed in 1958 and completed
in 1961, and the reservoir was full for the first time in 1962. The
power plant was completed in 1963. President John F. Kennedy attended
the dam dedication ceremony on August 17, 1962.
The photos are a bit dark due to rapidly deteriorating weather conditions
during my visit. The photo above is an attempt to capture the full
width of the dam. The structure is almost exactly 2 miles from bluff
to bluff. The photo below is