Looking 👀 southwest from where I took this picture. Appearances are deceiving. This picture doesn’t fully grasp the enormity of Roosevelt Dam. Not sure 🤔 why the water is such a dark green color. It may be an algae bloom issue. (Photo Source: ✍️ Author’s Collection)
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Usually when I post for my Arizona Special Places category it’s typically about the state’s natural wonders. This time I wanted to post about one of the man made wonders that I was finally able to see for myself on a weekend road trip this month. Without question, the Roosevelt Dam completed way back in 1911 is still a vital component of sustaining life in Arizona as it contributes mightily to irrigation and other water needs in the vast central Sonoran Desert area of the of the state. The dam was named in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt when construction began in 1903 and taking eight years to complete at the breathtaking cost back then of $10,000,000. In 2026 this would be the equivalent of nearly $351,000,000!
Regardless of how arid and barren the desert may appear, it water is nearby in any amount — something will grow. Even small amounts of dirt or sand in rock crevices will make greenery sprout 🌱! (Photo Source: ✍️ Author’s Collection)
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For quite some time it was the largest masonry dam in the world. Roosevelt Lake created behind it stretches 22 miles when at full capacity and at its deepest point goes down an astonishing 349 feet! Located in the Salt River Valley, the huge dam and massive lake are an incredible feat of engineering that is also a major summer recreation area about 80 miles NE of Phoenix. The Roosevelt Lake area is also close to Tortilla Flat, one of my favorite frontier historic places.
I wrote about my first visit there in a previous Armchair Travelogues post from July, 2022. In another post coming up soon there will be an update of second visit to Tortilla Flat. It was a good thing the place is fully open for business again, because in 2022 the Covid-19 Pandemic forced the closure of the gift shop and the very popular Tortilla Flat Bar & Grill. However, getting back to more discussion of Roosevelt Dam & Lake, it had faithfully served for almost eight decades providing irrigation, flood control, and hydroelectric power for a large section of Arizona. By the 1980s it was starting to show its age and limitations — so, between 1989-1996 it got a major facelift, and was resurfaced with concrete.
The Theodore Roosevelt Lake Bridge 🌉 was completed in 1992, and was part of the 1989-1996 renovation of Roosevelt Dam just below the bridge. Vehicle traffic was switched to this new bridge as part of the realignment with Highway 188. Prior to this major change, all traffic had to travel over the top of the dam which could no longer accommodate it. Like the dam, the bridge is also quite the engineering marvel as a single steel span at 2,198.9 feet long. (Photo Source: ✍️ Author’s Collection)
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Additionally, the height was raised by 77 feet which increased water storage capacity by 20%. After all, Arizona’s agricultural production and population had grown immensely since 1911 and the renovations were likely overdue as it was. What also interests me a great deal is that there should be abundant wildlife in the area with some 355 species of mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and fish. Unfortunately, not many can be seen during the day due to the intense desert heat…but this will mean another road trip during the autumn/winter and closer to evening and then we’ll see what other pictures I might get!
