No, it's not AI. It's just a really big flag with bright lights, hanging over the Hoover Dam for the next few weeks.
As a display to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence, the states of Nevada and Arizona and the federal Bureau of Reclamation joined together to hang and illuminate a massive American flag at the dam on Memorial Day.
The display, scheduled to run through July 4, is visible to anyone crossing between Arizona and Nevada on U.S. Route 93, which crosses the top of the dam. The flag is 150 feet high and 300 feet long, spread across the south side of the dam and illuminated by 550 LED lights (powered by electricity generated by the dam).
A wider view of the illuminated American flag at the Hoover Dam.
(Michael Bittle)
It's a sight that comes at a challenging time for the Hoover Dam, as experts warn that Lake Mead's dwindling water levels could threaten the dam's ability to generate hydroelectric power. “Put a flag on it, that'll fix it,” suggested one of several Reddit commenters who felt sarcastic about the flag image.
The dam, a frequent destination for day trips from Las Vegas, is located 35 miles east of the Las Vegas Strip, about 295 miles northeast of Los Angeles. The site has a visitor center and observation deck, and guided and self-guided tours.
Installing the exhibit involved dozens of riggers and two cranes. The flag, which is approximately the dimensions of a football field, has previously been used for celebrations at Indianapolis Colts and Las Vegas Raiders football games.
Two days after it was placed, wind gusts of up to 50 mph led organizers to lower the flag last Wednesday when the National Weather Service declared a wind advisory for the area. Organizers raised the flag again on Friday night.
Strong winds are not uncommon in the area. Organizers said the weather “may periodically require the flag to be temporarily lowered.” Updates on the flag's status can be found on the Hoover Dam Facebook page.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority paid for the exhibit. A spokeswoman said the cost, including the flag, production, installation costs and six weeks of lighting, will be between $750,000 and $1 million.
The dam, a five-year construction job completed in 1936 during the depths of the Great Depression, is often hailed as one of the most impressive works of infrastructure in the country. Although this is not the first time a flag has been placed on it, organizers have called the display “the most ambitious long-term installation ever attempted at Hoover Dam.”
