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Blood, concrete, and dynamite: Building the Hoover Dam - Alex Gendler

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TEDEd Animation

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In the early 20th century, the US had expanded from coast to coast, but many cities in the southwest still lacked reliable water sources. The Colorado River's erratic flow and frequent floods made it unreliable for agriculture, and the region’s growing cities needed more energy. So the government decided to build a massive hydroelectric dam. Alex Gendler details the creation of the Hoover Dam.

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Meet The Creators

  • Educator Alex Gendler
  • Director Jovan Rakić, Artrake Studio
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Storyboard Artist Tamara Bogovac, Jovan Rakić
  • Animator Tamara Bogovac, Jovan Rakić
  • Compositor Jovan Rakić
  • Art Director Jovan Rakić
  • Music Nikola Radivojevic
  • Sound Designer Nikola Radivojevic
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler

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