Lake Mead National Recreation Area, National recreation area in southeastern Nevada and northwestern Arizona, United States.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area is a vast protected landscape in Nevada and Arizona featuring mountains, canyons, and two massive reservoirs created by the Hoover Dam and Davis Dam. The shoreline stretches for hundreds of miles, with the landscape shaped by steep canyon walls and open water that draws visitors year-round.
This site was established in 1936 as Boulder Dam Recreation Area and renamed Lake Mead National Recreation Area in 1947, becoming the nation's first officially designated recreation area. The creation of the reservoirs during the 1930s through the dam projects fundamentally transformed the region's landscape and infrastructure.
Native American tribes left behind archaeological sites throughout the region that reveal how people lived here for centuries before the dams were built. Walking through the area, you can see evidence of their settlements and artifacts at several locations.
Multiple entrance points provide access to boat launches, campgrounds, and swimming areas spread across the shoreline. Water levels fluctuate seasonally, so some areas and facilities may not be accessible at all times, and it's wise to check conditions before planning your visit.
The ghost town of St. Thomas was flooded when Lake Mead formed, but its ruins emerge again when water levels drop, revealing traces of a vanished settlement. These periodically resurfacing remains offer visitors a rare glimpse into communities that were submerged to create the reservoirs.
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