10 Mind-Blowing Facts About Lake Mead

The United States is home to many large, interesting bodies of water, and Lake Mead is one of them. This massive reservoir is in both Arizona and Nevada, and it provides water for many people in those states and beyond. Today, we’re going to show you 10 mind-blowing facts about Lake Mead, showcasing what makes this lake so special. Get ready to learn some interesting, fun, and not-so-fun facts about the body of water.

1. The Lake Is Man-Made

When you consider the massive size of Lake Mead, it’s hard to imagine it being man-made. However, this lake only started filling in 1934. The creation of the Hoover Dam produced this reservoir by impounding the Colorado River. The lake continued to fill and reached a surface elevation of 1,220.40 feet in 1941. However, the lake’s level has dwindled over time.

2. It’s the Largest Reservoir in the United States

Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the United States when measured by volume. The maximum volume of this body of water is about 26,134,000 acre-feet. The lake’s greatest water level was 1225.44 feet in 1983, a measure it has not matched since. Given the ongoing issues with water usage and the area’s climate, the lake may never reach its maximum volume again.

3. Lake Mead Has the Second Largest Reservoir by Surface Area

Another one of the mind-blowing facts about Lake Mead is that it is the second-largest reservoir in the United States by surface area. Lake Mead is 247 square miles in area and has about 760 miles of shoreline. In short, this lake is huge, but Lake Powell is a bit larger in terms of surface area at 252 square miles in area.

4. Lake Mead Was Named After the Hoover Dam Project Lead

The lake’s original name was Boulder Lake, and its creation was a part of the larger Boulder Canyon Project. In fact, Hoover Dam was originally called “Boulder Dam.” The “Hoover Dam” name was only cemented by a bill from Congress in 1947.

The lake’s name comes from a man named Elwood Mead, who was the commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation between 1924 and 1936. Officially, Lake Mead’s original name was Boulder Dam Recreation Area. The lake was renamed for Elwood Mead in 1947. Today, the lake’s official name is the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

5. Mind-Blowing Facts About Lake Mead- It Provides Water for over 20 Million People

Somewhere between 20 and 25 million people rely on water from Lake Mead. The reservoir provides water to areas in Arizona, California, Nevada, and even Mexico. Cities like Las Vegas, Boulder City, and Henderson rely on the water from this lake to serve their citizens’ needs. The water is necessary for irrigation in parts of the Southwest. The water level in the lake dramatically dipped in recent years, but it is rising once again due to significant water runoff from the Rocky Mountains.

6. The Lake’s Waters Hide a Ghost Town Called St. Thomas

One of the most mind-blowing facts about Lake Mead is its creation necessitated the destruction of a town. Mormons built St. Thomas in 1865 under the guidance of Thomas Smith. In 1871, the members of the Church of Latter-Day Saints abandoned the town because the land was suddenly added to Nevada’s territory. Many individuals left the town. However, the formation of Lake Mead inundated the town in the 1930s. The last person left in 1938. These days, parts of the former town are once again above water as the water level has dropped over the years. So, people can actually visit the place where the town used to be.

7. A B-29 Crashed into Lake Mead

A whole town is not the only thing in the waters of Lake Mead. An entire World War II-era plane is below the water as well. In 1948, a Boeing B-29-100-BW Superfortress crashed into the lake during a training exercise. Fortunately, none of the people onboard suffered significant injuries. Officials kept the mission secret for about 50 years, making this one of the most mind-blowing facts about Lake Mead.

8. The Body of Water Has Claimed Hundreds of Lives

Another one of the not-so-pleasant facts about this lake is that the lake has claimed the lives of many people. Roughly 300 people have drowned at this lake since the 1930s. In recent years, the water level has significantly dropped. As a result, law enforcement has recovered a few skeletons, some bearing the hallmarks of mafia-style executions. The lake’s proximity to Las Vegas, a one-time hotspot for organized crime, could have made it an ideal dumping ground for bodies.

9. Lake Mead Was the First National Recreation Area

Now that we’ve covered some of the grisly mind-blowing facts about Lake Mead, let’s look at some happier aspects of the reservoir. For example, Lake Mead National Recreation Center was the first national recreation area of its kind in the country in 1964. Since then, millions of people have visited the area to go camping, boating, fishing, and more!

10. The Area Around the Lake Has Hundreds of Campsites

The last of our mind-blowing facts about Lake Mead is that the area is home to roughly 900 campsites and 15 sites for RVs. People come from all around the country to visit Lake Mead and its large recreation area. Roughly 5.6 million people visited the area in 2022, and these many campsites allow a lot of people to stay the night near the lake where they can take part in all sorts of activities.  

Summary of the Mind-Blowing Facts About Lake Mead

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