Lake Mead has the distinction of being the largest man-made lake and reservoir in the Unites States. It is Located approximately 20 miles east of Las Vegas near the Nevada-Arizona border. It occupies an area of 247 square feet, which equals nearly 1.5 million acres. It has 550 miles of shoreline and is 115 miles long and between 1 to 8 miles wide. The water’s deepest point is 589 feet.
The water that is held in Lake Mead eventually spills over the Hoover Dam and sustains life in western states such as Nevada and California. In fact, if you use a water fountain in Disneyland in Anaheim, California, or watch a show at Sea World in San Diego, the water all comes from Lake Mead, which is about 300 miles away.
Something that not many people know is that there is something special lying on the floor of the lake. In July 1948, while flying a classified mission, a four-engine, propeller-driven, B-29 SuperFortress heavy bomber crashed into the lake. The plane’s five-man crew was rescued, but the plane–still intact except for three of the four engines–sank in more than 250 feet of water. It remained unseen for 50 years until a dive team located it using side-scan sonar. It is too deep for normal diving and the rough terrain precludes any type of salvage operation.
Lake Mead offers many types of recreation to locals and visitors. Boating is the most popular. There are several marinas on the lake that rent luxury houseboats: Forever Resorts at Calleville Bay and Echo Bay; and Las Vegas Boat Harbor in Hemenway Harbor. With other smaller ones that rent small boats. The area also has many coves with rocky cliffs and sandy beaches to explore. There are several small to medium-sized islands in the lake area depending on the water level.
Interested in a Lake Mead houseboat vacation? Click here!
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