The Glen Canyon Dam generates hydroelectric power that is distributed to cities and industries throughout the West. The dam's main purpose is water storage. Glen Canyon Dam was constructed and is operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, an agency within the Department of Interior.
The Hayden Visitor Center, next to highway US 89, illustrates the construction of the dam and includes a relief model of the canyon country.
Glen Canyon was at one time just a spectacular hole in the ground. This is a geological wonder that rivaled the Grand Canyon National Park in both size and beauty. In 1963, when Glen Canyon was flooded to create Lake Powell, one magical landscape was lost but another was created: a water-lover's playground that now draws fun-seekers by the thousands.
