Lake Mead is the largest man-made lake and reservoir in the United States. It is located on the Colorado River about 30 miles (48 km) southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, in the states of Nevada and Arizona. Formed by water impounded by Hoover Dam, it extends 110 mi (180 km) behind the dam, holding approximately 28.5 million acre feet (35 km³) of water. The water held in Lake Mead is released to communities in Southern California and Nevada, via aqueducts.
Lake Mead is located approximately 30 miles east of the city of Las Vegas. Visitors who come to Lake Mead, can engage in a wide variety of activities including boating, camping, hiking, swimming, water skiing, year-round fishing and other outdoor activities. While the current drought has effected some areas drastically, Lake Mead really has not changed that much. It has become even more interesting.
Lake Mead, was named after Dr. Elwood Mead, the U.S. Reclamation Commissioner between 1924 and 1936. The Lake Mead National Recreation Area was established on October 8, 1964.
Lake Mead is a huge reservoir impounded by the Hoover Dam. Over 1.5 million acres of land are dedicated to the Lake Mead NRA. When the Lake Mead is full, it has over 550 miles of shoreline and covers some 247 square miles. The 'water part' of Lake Mead consists of five basins, each with its own unique features. Within these basins Lake Mead can store up to 2 years average flow from the Colorado River. The water part of Lake Mead NRA only occupies less than 13% of the total area of the park. For many visitors there is a lot more to Lake Mead than just water sports.
Lake Mead is open year round for visitors to enjoy its many recreational opportunities, wildlife and many scenic wonders. There are several marinas located in the park that offer services such as boat slips, boat and house boat rentals. Within the park there are 8 campgrounds, a couple of motels and 5 RV campgrounds with hookups.
