Hoover Dam near Las Vegas, NV

Hoover Dam is one of Man's greatest technological feats as it not only holds back the mighty Colorado River, it also generates a massive amount of electricity. It took only five years to pour and shape 3.2 million cubic yards of concrete into this Dam measuring 726.4 feet high, 660 feet thick and 1,244 feet long. Impressive! Tours are given daily through the enormous facility; you get to watch movies retelling the story of the Dam, tour the Power Plant Generators, and check out the gorgeous view from the Overlook. It is indeed one of the top tourist sites in the West.