Lake Powell
Saturday, 13th May 2006 by Alex Turnbull
I was reading some old comments on the site and rediscovered this fabulous swirling water on Lake Powell. However this beautiful sight isn't quite as innocent as it first seems.
On closer inspection you can identify the boat that's causing this swirl, and taking a wander around the area turns up another one, followed by a whole flotilla. This initially deserted-looking landscape is in fact overrun with people - none of whom would be here if several environmental organisations had their way.
Lake Powell is actually a man-made reservoir, which was created by the flooding of Glen Canyon with the Colorado River - an engineering feat accomplished and maintained by the controversial Glen Canyon Dam. Despite the obvious possibilities for damage to the area's ecosystem, Lake Powell is arguably one of the most beautiful lakes in the whole of America, and each year over 2 million people get to see sights like the Rainbow Bridge, which would otherwise be too remote for most of them to reach.
But reducing the amount of people who make it here might not be such a bad thing of course. Quite apart from the tourist presence upsetting the local Navajo (who consider the Rainbow Bridge an important religious site), it seems that the waters of Lake Powell are further eroding the foundations of the Rainbow Bridge.
Thanks to Jen, JDP and Goomerator.
About the author
Alex has decided that his title will be Senior Vice President of Stuff.
‘Bout your last post- given the context, you must mean “…not such a good thing of course.” Which it isn’t. In fact, there’s been a drought in recent years that has exposed a bunch of beautiful canyons that the formation of Lake Powell flooded.
Thanks Tim, I’ve edited the post for clarity.
Could that uh, swirl be infact a whirlpool? given the comment “not such a good thing” leads me to beleive it is a giant whirlpool.
Following up Tim’s comment, National Geographic ran an article last month on how Lake Powell is shrinking due to the current drought. You can find part of the article here: http://www9.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0604/feature3/index.html
Spurred on by the drought, apparently there’s a significant number of people who are campaigning for the reservoir to be completely drained and returned to its natural state, with maybe a new underground reservoir being built elsewhere.
…not to mention destroying the ecosystem of the Grand Canyon, a world treasure.
Before it was flooded, many considered Glen Canyon (ie, Lake Powell minus water) to be one of the most spectacular canyons in the country and deserving of its own place alongside the Grand Canyon.
With the effects of global warming and the current prolonged drought, maybe we will see the end to Glen Canyon Dam (which is also filling up with silt).
global warming, MY FOOT!!!
Is it me or has the swirl dried up?
It looks to me Eraser, that that stuff about the Lake drying up is pretty serious :-/
The lake DID NOT dry up, it wasn’t global warming, It wasn’t affected by the grassy knoll.
All the water went to SoCal, it was let out of the Resevoir by the people who built it, and let the water out. When they turn the spigot off, the lake will fill back up, especially this year, with the record late snowfalls.
Although the concept of no water for SoCal intrigues me, I think the majority of people who get their energy and water from from LP would disagree.
ya the only mistake in Glen Canyon is they didn’t finish their plans to place a lake in canyonlands and the grand canyon. The views would be SPETACULAR from a powerboat afloat on “The Grand Canyon reservior”
We are animals. We change our surroundings. Nature intended us to do so, hence our intelligence and capabilities. We can use our powers for good and evil. This dam is more good than evil. If you’ve been to Utah you’re aware that there are VAST areas of untouched wilderness.
Nature has NO intent.