Modern airports are wonders of architectural creativity blended with incredibly detailed and non-negotiable specifications unique to the travel industry. The idea is to keep our transportation hubs safe and functioning smoothly while enhancing the experience for passengers, staff, airlines and everyone else who uses them.

If you want to see how complex a project can be, follow along with the construction of our new $1.4 billion Terminal Modernization Program at pittransformed.com. It takes so much time and skill and effort to make a superlative airport.

That being said, it’s nothing compared to the Hoover Dam, one of the greatest engineering marvels in U.S. history.

Contractors had to invent new construction methods for the audacious build on the Nevada-Arizona border. Engineer Frank Crowe, the general construction superintendent, was awarded two patents for creating concrete hauling buckets used on the project.

(Fun fact: The Hoover Dam project was the first to mandate that construction workers use what became known as hard hats! They used cloth hats coated with tar until the contractor had hats made commercially and issued to every worker.)

Why are we talking airports and dams? Because this week’s photos include a gorgeous sunset shot of our airport from Hudson Vennum and a crisp aerial view of Lake Mead, the reservoir created by the Hoover Dam, from Kathy Swihart.

Thanks, Hudson and Kathy!

Our readers continue to pass along shots of unique aircraft, international airports, historical events, gorgeous views and even family vacation photos for this feature. We love them! Keep them coming — you can click here for submission guidelines.

An aerial view of the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead taken from a Southwest 737. (Photo submitted by Kathy Swihart)