Lake Mead, Reservoir on the Colorado River in Nevada and Arizona, United States

Lake Mead is a reservoir on the Colorado River behind the Hoover Dam, on the Nevada–Arizona border 24 mi (39 km) east of Las Vegas. At full capacity it runs 112 miles (180 km) long with a surface area of 247 square miles (640 km2) and a greatest depth of 532 feet (162 m). Its drowned side canyons form Boulder, Virgin, Temple and Gregg basins, joined by The Narrows and Virgin Canyon.

When the Hoover Dam was completed in 1935, it flooded several valleys and old settlements like St. Thomas to form this reservoir. Since then, the water level has shifted many times, dropping noticeably during dry years and leaving wide bands of pale rock along the shore.

Along the water you see yachts parked next to houseboats, and fishing groups spend entire weekends in the shallow bays. Families from Las Vegas often come here to swim and barbecue, while others spend the day waterskiing or riding jetskis across the open water.

Several marinas are spread along the shoreline and offer boat rentals as well as supply stations for longer stays on the water. Campsites often sit in the coves and provide direct access to the shore, though the walking distance changes depending on how low the water is.

When the water drops, old relics appear, including a crashed bomber from 1948 and the ruins of St. Thomas with its foundation walls and bricks. Sometimes you can also see remains of roads or old boats that spent decades under the surface.