The Hoover Dam and a Cosmic Count You Need to Know

Morning, dudes. Did you know that Mount Everest isn’t technically the tallest mountain in the world? Yep, you read that right. If you measure from base to peak, the title actually belongs to Mauna Kea in Hawaii. The catch? Most of it is underwater. From its base on the ocean floor to its summit, Mauna Kea stretches about 33,500 feet—over 4,000 feet taller than Everest.

Big Stuff

Hoover Dam – The Wall that Tamed a River

Ever look at a river and think, "Yeah, we should definitely put a colossal wall right here"? That's basically what happened with the Hoover Dam, a feat of engineering so massive that it not only tamed the wild Colorado River but also powered up half of the Southwest and put thousands to work during the Great Depression.

Why They Built It

It wasn’t just about putting a big wall in the middle of a desert (although that’s a pretty sick thing to do on its own). It had a mission:

• Flood Control: To tame the unpredictable Colorado River.

• Irrigation: To turn desert land into fertile farmland.

• Power Generation: To fuel the growth of cities with hydroelectric power.

• Economic Boost: To create jobs during the Great Depression.

• Water Storage: To ensure a steady supply with Lake Mead.

• Water Allocation: To manage and share water fairly among states.

A Wall of Epic Proportions

Let’s talk numbers: The Hoover Dam stands at a towering 726 feet tall, which is about the height of a 60-story skyscraper. Imagine standing at the base of a building that tall and realizing that this isn’t a shiny corporate tower, but a massive slab of concrete holding back the Colorado River. Stretching 1,244 feet across the Black Canyon, this behemoth is nearly a quarter-mile long. And when it comes to weight, we’re talking about a structure that tips the scales at a staggering 6.6 million tons—that’s roughly the weight of nine Empire State Buildings.

But building a wall this big wasn’t just about making something impressive to look at. The Hoover Dam was designed to be a powerhouse, literally. With a generating capacity of over 4 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity every year, it became the lifeblood of the Southwest, powering up booming cities like Las Vegas and fueling the expansion of Los Angeles.

To put that into perspective, 4 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity is enough to:

• Power 370,000 homes for an entire year

• Keep 32 million LED light bulbs running continuously for a year

• Drive 500,000 electric vehicles for 12,000 miles each

• Charge 12 billion smartphones (yes, billion)

• Run 16,000 data centers for a year

• Keep 20 million refrigerators running for a year

The Hoover Dam wasn’t just any dam—it was a record-breaker. When it was completed in 1936, it was the largest concrete structure on the planet. And speaking of concrete, they used so much of it that if you took all that concrete and laid it out as a two-lane highway, it would stretch from New York City all the way to San Francisco—a 3,000-mile ribbon of road across the entire United States. And get this: the concrete is still curing even today, nearly 90 years later.

The Dude Who Made It Happen

Meet Frank Crowe, the guy who turned the Hoover Dam from an ambitious idea into a reality. Crowe wasn’t just any civil engineer; he was the kind of dude who thrived on taking on the impossible. Born in 1882 in Canada, Crowe made his way to the U.S. and quickly earned a reputation as a no-nonsense problem solver, earning him the nickname “Hurry Up” Crowe.

He introduced innovative construction techniques that sped up the process, like using giant pipes to deliver concrete directly where it was needed—something revolutionary for the time. Under his leadership, the project didn’t just meet its deadlines; it finished two years ahead of schedule. And in an era where delays were the norm, that was nothing short of miraculous.

But what really set Crowe apart was his leadership. The Hoover Dam project employed over 21,000 workers during the Great Depression, and Crowe was known for his ability to keep the team motivated and on task, even in the face of grueling heat and dangerous conditions. He knew that the dam wasn’t just a structure; it was a lifeline for the country, providing jobs, electricity, and a beacon of hope during tough times.

So, if you’re ever looking for a good road trip stop that’s equal parts history and awe, the Hoover Dam is a must-see. Standing next to it, you get that feeling of, "Wow, humans can build some pretty insane stuff."

Want to know more about the Hoover Dam? Check out the video below.

Click here to see a cool gallery of photos of the men who worked on the dam.

For all our coffee mug fanatics, grab a vintage Hoover Dam mug 👉 here.

Math Stuff

Let’s Talk Numbers: Avogadro’s Mind-Boggling Digit

So, what is Avogadro’s Number? In a nutshell, it’s 6.022 x 10²³. No, that’s not your local pizza joint’s phone number. It’s the number of atoms, molecules, or any tiny particles you’ll find in one mole of a substance. But wait, what’s a mole? In chemistry, a mole is a unit used to measure the amount of a substance. It’s kind of like a dozen, but instead of 12, you’ve got 6.022 x 10²³—an insanely large number, perfect for counting those minuscule particles we can’t see with the naked eye.

Translation? It’s how chemists can count the uncountable. Imagine trying to count every grain of sand on the beach—that’s the kind of scale we’re talking about here. Avogadro’s Number allows scientists to bridge the gap between the microscopic world of atoms and molecules and the macroscopic world we live in. Without it, understanding chemical reactions and the properties of matter would be a whole lot trickier. So the next time you hear "mole," think of it as a chemist’s secret weapon for dealing with the incredibly small.

To put this in perspective: If you had 6.022 x 10²³ donuts (don’t ask why, just roll with it), you could cover the entire planet in a donut blanket five times over. Or, if you had that many pennies, you’d basically be richer than Scrooge McDuck—times a million. We’re talking massive here, folks.

But why the heck is it called Avogadro’s Number? Well, that’s all thanks to Amedeo Avogadro, an Italian scientist who wasn’t afraid to think big—literally. Back in the early 1800s, Avogadro proposed a groundbreaking idea: equal volumes of gas, when kept at the same temperature and pressure, contain the same number of particles, regardless of the type of gas. This was a mind-blowing concept at the time, fundamentally challenging the way scientists understood matter.

Although Avogadro didn’t actually calculate the specific value we now know as Avogadro’s Number, his hypothesis paved the way for future scientists to dig deeper. It wasn’t until decades later that others built on his work, eventually leading to the determination of the precise number: 6.022 x 10²³. This number is now iconic in chemistry, representing the number of atoms or molecules in a mole of a substance. So, while Avogadro didn’t get to see his idea fully realized in his lifetime, his bold thinking earned him a permanent spot in scientific history, with one of the most important constants named in his honor.

We first encountered Avogadro’s Number in this amazing book full of answers to the craziest 'What if' questions. We highly recommend it.