Can Engineers Relocate Hoover Dam?

[Newai]

Assuming that funding is not an issue, is it within the limits of engineering to move Hoover Dam, including the Penstock Towers, in one piece a distance of several miles?

 

[phyzguy]

I would say no. Presumably you mean pick it up and move it in one piece. I can see how it would be possible to break it into pieces and move it piece by piece over a period of time, but I don't see how you could pick it up and move it whole. I calculate that it weighs ~10^13 kg. How would you lift it? And even if you could lift it, it would probably break into pieces under its own weight anyway.

 

[Newai]

Okay. Thanks for the input!

 

[Nik_2213]

Uh, given that you would want to tie it into the canyon floor and walls, it would make more sense to build a new dam and keep the old one as a silt catcher...

ps: I take it you'd empty the water before moving it ??