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Lake Mead, Arizona & Nevada, USA

Lake Mead is the USA’s largest man-made reservoir in amount of water it can hold. Although Lake Powell is marginally larger in acreage at full-pond, Lake Mead holds more water by volume and thus is considered the larger of the two. In the size of their surfaces, both are dwarfed by Lake Sakakawea and Lake Oahe in North and South Dakota, and Fort Peck Lake in Montana…
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    • All About Lake Mead, AZ/NV

    Lake Locations: USA - US Southwest Region - Arizona - West Coast Region, AZ - US West Region - Nevada - Las Vegas Territory, NV -

    Lake Mead is the USA’s largest man-made reservoir in amount of water it can hold. Although Lake Powell is marginally larger in acreage at full-pond, Lake Mead holds more water by volume and thus is considered the larger of the two. In the size of their surfaces, both are dwarfed by Lake Sakakawea and Lake Oahe in North and South Dakota, and Fort Peck Lake in Montana respectively. Adding to the confusion is the fact that the controlling authorities for major reservoirs are far more concerned with how much water they hold than with surface acreage which often changes from month-to-month. With acres of water such as these behemoths contain, a few hundred acres more or less hardly matters. Debates over relative size thus will likely continue for years to come!

    With over 500 miles of shoreline and a temperate climate, Lake Mead is a utopia for the over 8 million visitors that seek out its recreational opportunities. It is part of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, and boating is a major drawing card. Fishing, diving, water skiing, hiking and camping are just some on the recreational possibilities. Open year round, many sun-seekers come to escape northern winters and relax in the warmth. With Las Vegas and Hoover Dam nearby, Lake Mead is an ideal location to head out for a day’s sightseeing and play. Lake Mead, covering the state line, is in both Arizona and Nevada.

    Under the auspices of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Lake Mead was formed by the construction of Boulder Dam (now Hoover Dam) impounding the Colorado River. Construction was completed in 1936. Lake Mead’s primary purpose is as a reservoir for water supply, with over 22 million people in California and Nevada dependent upon it. Other major uses are hydropower generation and irrigation supply. Spectacular recreation of all types is a byproduct of the Dam. Lake Mead is located southeast of Las Vegas and can be accessed from US 93 and 95 on the south and US 15 on the north. Interstate 515 is the access from Las Vegas and Henderson. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation operates and maintains the dam, powerplant and reservoir, while the National Park Service administers Lake Mead.

    Superb boating is a major enjoyment on the gorgeous waters of Lake Mead. Seven large fully stocked marinas dot the lake. Everything from 75 foot houseboats to canoes and kayaks may be rented at most. Watersports abound with the warm climate and boating can be enjoyed over 95% of Lake Mead – fluctuating lake levels creating shallow areas acoount for the remaining 5%. Launch ramps in both Arizona and Nevada locations are conveniently accessible. For those not having or wanting to rent a boat of their own, there are many cruises and sightseeing tours offered around Lake Mead.

    Lake Mead is an excellent ‘fishing hole’. Striped bass, stocked trout, shad, largemouth bass, channel cats, bluegill and crappie are found in the most likely spots. Fishing is open year round except for posted areas.

    Lake Mead holds a crashed B-29 Superfortress which was found by sports divers and further explored by the National Park Service (NPS) and NOAA. It is on the Lake bottom at 140 to 170 feet and crashed in 1948. An NPS diving permit is required to dive the site. Also, there are more than 25 geocaches situated nearby for new ‘finds’. Although some will test your rock climbing ability, many are relatively easy to find and log.

    Valley of Fire State Park is located only six miles from Lake Mead and northeast of Las Vegas. Its name comes from the red sandstone formations and the stark, other worldly beauty of the Mojave Desert. Open all year, popular activities include hiking, camping, picnicking, photography, and a visit to the full-scale visitors center.

    All in all, Lake Mead is a boater’s paradise with a wealth of recreational activities for any outdoors person.

    Things to Do at Lake Mead

    These are some activities in the Lake Mead, AZ/NV area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Canoeing
    • Kayaking
    • Water Skiing
    • Camping
    • Picnicking
    • Hiking
    • Rock Climbing
    • State Park
    • National Park

    What Kind of Fish Are in Lake Mead?

    Lake Mead has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Bluegill
    • Crappie
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Shad
    • Striped Bass
    • Sunfish
    • Trout
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    Find Places to Stay at Lake Mead

    If you’re considering a Lake Mead lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Lake Mead Vacation

    Our interactive Lake Mead lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Lake Mead Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Not Known

    Water Level Control: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

    Surface Area: 157,900 acres

    Shoreline Length: 550 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 1,125 feet

    Minimum Elevation (Min Pond): 915 feet

    Maximum Elevation (Max Pond): 1,229 feet

    Average Depth: 225 feet

    Maximum Depth: 589 feet

    Water Volume: 28,537,000 acre-feet

    Completion Year: 1936

    Water Residence Time: 3.9 years

    Drainage Area: 171,700 sq. miles

    Trophic State: Oligo-mesotrophic

    Lake Mead Map
    Lake Water Level
    Local Weather Forecast

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