February 2007.............

Parker Dam: The dam spans the Colorado River between Arizona and California, and is 155 miles downstream from Hoover Dam. It was built between 1934 and 1938 by the Bureau of Reclamanation with funds provided by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. It is the deepest dam in the world, 73% of its structure height of 320 feet is below the original riverbed. 235 feet of the Colorado riverbed was excavated before the concrete was placed for the dam's foundation. Only about 85 feet of the dam is visible and the dam's superstructure raises another 62 feet above the roadway across the top of the dam. Access to cross the dam is now through guards, and very narrow barriers, at each end of the dam and you cannot stop on the dam.

January 2007..........

Swansea: Ghost Town and Copper mine - The post office was established in 1909 and closed in 1924. The town was headquarters for Clara Consolidated Gold and Copper Mining Co. At it's peak the population was 750. The copper mine was active periodically from 1900 to 1949, the ruins of the smelter are extensive. Photos below are of the smelter and housing for workers. Swansea is in the middle of nowhere, we visited when we were in Parker AZ. If you're in the area it's OK, however we both felt it wasn't worth the trip.

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