Lake Mead
- Nevada
- Arizona
photo: Andrew Cattoir
Lake Mead is America's First National Recreation Area, and one of the most spectacular reservoirs in the country. Some 24 miles east of Las Vegas it is the largest reservoir in the US in terms of water capacity. It was formed by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, and stretches across Nevada and Arizona. At maximum capacity, Lake Mead is 112 miles long, 532 feet at its greatest depth, has a surface elevation of 1,229 feet above sea level, has a surface area of 247 square miles and contains 28.23 million acre-feet of water. Jagged mountain ranges surround the lake, offering a scenic backdrop, especially at sunset. Because of drought and increased water demand, the lake has remained below capacity since 1983. In 2022 Lake Mead held 26.63% of full capacity. As a result of the decreasing water level, marinas and boat launch ramps have either had to be relocated to another area of the lake or have closed down permanently. Lake Mead provides water to the states of Arizona, California, and Nevada as well as some of Mexico, providing sustenance to nearly 20 million people and large areas of farmland.