1939 - Environment

Environment

Parker Dam is completed across the Colorado River near Parker, Ariz., as part of the $220 million Colorado River Aqueduct System that taps 1 billion gallons of water per day from the river, lifts it nearly one-fourth of a mile high, and transports it across 330 miles of desert and mountain to the 3,900-square mile Metropolitan Water District of Los Angeles (see 1913). Located 155 miles below the 3-year-old Boulder Dam, the new $13 million project has been built up from 234 feet below the river bed.

Fort Peck Dam is completed with WPA funds to control the Missouri River in northeastern Montana. One of the world's largest earth-filled dams, it rises 249 feet, extends 21,432 feet in length, and produces hydroelectric power and improves navigation in addition to controlling floods.

An earthquake registering 8.3 on the Richter scale shatters Chillan, Chile, January 25, killing 28,000; an earthquake registering 8.0 on the Richter scale shakes Erzincan, Turkey, December 26, killing 30,000 and leaving hundreds of thousands homeless.