Building Big S01E04 · Dams

Overview

How does a dam resist the crush of millions of gallons of water? Host David Macaulay surveys the dam -- the biggest, costliest structure of all -- from Hoover's concrete arch confronting the Colorado River to the Aswan High Dam, a veritable underwater mountain sitting on the Nile riverbed, holding back a lake the size of England.

Torrents

Subtitles

Episodes

1. 1 1. Bridges2000-10-03How does a bridge withstand the forces of nature and traffic? Host David Macaulay takes viewers from the stone arch bridges of the Roman Empire to Japan's giant, all-steel Akashi K
2. 2 2. Domes2000-10-10How does a dome support itself? Ever since the Roman Emperor Hadrian topped his Pantheon with a dome, this roof-with-class has been the prestige building form. Big domes cover civi
3. 3 3. Skyscrapers2000-10-17What does it take to erect a skyscraper 100 stories tall? From the medieval towers of Italy's San Gimignano to today's race to build the world's tallest skyscraper, host David Maca
4. 4 4. Dams2000-10-24How does a dam resist the crush of millions of gallons of water? Host David Macaulay surveys the dam -- the biggest, costliest structure of all -- from Hoover's concrete arch confr
5. 5 5. Tunnels2000-10-31What keeps a tunnel from collapsing? Tunnels have advanced from dangerous, claustrophobic passages to spacious, safe subterranean networks as roomy as shopping malls. Host David Ma