Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Fort Peck Dam and Lake, Montana

The Fort Peck area was first charted by Lewis and Clark in 1804 and recognized for its pristine natural views.  The old Fort Peck Trading Post, for which the project was named, was built in 1867 as a landing for steamboats traveling upstream.

The construction of Fort Peck Dam was begun in 1933 and was one of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal projects during the Great Depression.  During the Dam's construction more than 40,000 people flooded to the area looking for work, creating 18 boom towns.

The dam was completed in seven years and it's original purposes were flood control and navigation. The dams present day purposes are flood control, navigation, hydroelectric power, fish & wildlife, recreation, irrigation, public water, and water quality.  Fort Peck Dam is the largest hydraulically-filled dam in the world.

Some of the local color........
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