The South Dakota Dam Worth Driving Across The State To Explore
By Tori Jane|Updated on April 20, 2024(Originally published August 22, 2023)
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
Lake Oahe‘s existence is certainly not a secret; It’s the fourth-largest man-made reservoir in the United States, and it just so happens to call the Dakotas home. Lucky us! But though the lake itself is undoubtedly a popular attraction even for those coming from out-of-state – what makes the reservoir just as worthy of checking out and learning about is actually Lake Oahe Dam in South Dakota, which creates the entire body of water to begin with. Explore Lake Oahe and the fascinating dam that makes it… well, it.
The Oahe Dam is a very large, earthen dam located on the Missouri River.
It's some of the best hunting grounds in the United States, too, which makes it quite popular among hunters (and anglers - the fishing's great). The reservoir stretches for an impressive 231 miles, landing it the top spot among lakes in South Dakota.
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What creates the reservoir is the dam, itself, which provides electricity for most of the north-central US.
Interestingly, the world's first-ever rock boring machine was invented for - and used on - this very project. It was the beginning of the end for human tunnelers and a new beginning for heavy machinery and the folks who would operate it. By 1959, the dam had finally reached its full height. It was officially dedicated in 1962.
The Visitor's Center is really fascinating, with lots of educational information and some pretty cool brochures.
It's a very, very interesting place to come out and explore; it's worthy of a day trip, especially considering you'll be spending the day near one of the most beautiful lakes in the state.
To learn more about the Lake Oahe Dam in South Dakota, check out the official Oahe Dam Visitor Center website. You’ll learn so much more than you ever thought possible about this particular topic, and you never know – you might just leave with a shiny new passion! If you’re planning on driving out to visit, you might want to check out our awesome road trip essentials packing list.
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