I'm high in the Swiss Alps (7,759 feet) with my bike and in front of me stands Grand Dixence Dam. Rising 935 feet it's the tallest dam in Europe and sixth tallest in the world.
I've been to Hoover Dam in Nevada/Arizona (the most visited dam in the world) but, it's a mere 732 feet high.
The building on the left is Le Ritz hotel--which used to house workers. It stands right in front of the dam. The blue structure on the right is where you catch the cable car to take you up near the reservoir.
The dam was built between 1950-1961 and over 3,000 workers were onsite. Most workers lived in wooden dorm-like buildings where a worker got a bed for 12 hours and then went back to work as another worker took over his bed. However, engineers enjoyed more plush accommodations and envious other workers would call this place Le Ritz. So, when the dam was completed and the building turned into a 60 room hotel--naming it was a no-brainer.
You can see a cable car passing over.
So, the dam didn't look that tall until I walked up and touched it. Wow, this sucker is massive.
It's 2,297 feet wide. Not afraid of heights? Near the top a zip line is strung across and for $25 you can ride the dam's width.
It's quite a few steep hairpins heading down. It takes more than two hours of cycling to reach the valley floor.
These goats made so much noise I had to stop and say "hi".
Passed through beautiful mountain villages.
Liked their patio area.
How the heck did this ugly brutalism structure get built in a mountain village? I hope the mayor got canned.
Right behind and all around the ugly brutalism structure are mountain chalets--most more than 100 years old.
There's been a drought in Switzerland and not much grass. Looking over the other side of the valley I see big patches of green. Golf course? I ask a local and learn farmers have been using sprinklers to grow grass to feed cows.
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