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Lake Mead
The
largest man-made lake in the US, Lake Mead, the reservoir created by Hoover
Dam, has more than 550 miles of shoreline and covers 247 square miles.
It is part of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, created in 1964,
which also includes Lake Mohave, by Davis Dam. Lake Mead is named after
Dr. Elwood Mead, a Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation.
Ninety-seven percent of the water in Lake Mead comes from the Colorado
River, and the remaining three percent comes from the Virgin and Muddy
rivers and the Las Vegas Wash.
More than 9 million people visit this park every year, which has 9 full-service
marinas: Overton Beach, Echo Bay, Lake Mead, Calville Bay, Las Vegas Bay,
Temple Bar, Willow Beach, all at Lake Mead; and Katherine Landing and
Cottonwood Cove, at Lake Mohave.
Lake Mead is the only lake in Nevada with outlet to the sea. The lake
was created from the Colorado river, which flows into the Gulf of California.
About 90 percent of the water used in Las Vegas comes from Lake Mead
and the rest comes from a deep groundwater aquifer.
Attractions
Boulder Beach. 28 miles southeast. 800-752-9669. Beach, picnic
area, store, restaurant, lounge, motel, cruises, marina.
Calville Bay and Cottonwood Cove. 30 miles southwest. 800-255-5561.
Store, cafe, lounge, RV park, marina, showers, auto fuel, houseboat rental.
Echo
Bay. 54 miles southeast. 394-4000. Store, restaurant, lounge, marina,
RV park, campground, air strip, boat rental.
Hoover Dam and Visitor Center. 40 miles southeast. 293-8321. Visitor
center, tours, restaurant, gift shop.
Lake Mead Ferry Service. 3.5 miles past Alan Bible Visitor Center
on Lake Shore Rd. Cruises, tours, and charter boats.
Lake Mead Fish Catchery. One mile north of Boulder Beach. 486-6738.
Produces 500,000 rainbow trout annually.
Overton Beach. 60 miles northeast. 800-553-5452. Store, trailer
and RV park, watercraft rental, marina.
Visit
the Alan Bible Visitor Center for information about Lake Mead
and free maps. It is located four miles northeast of Boulder City at the
junction of highway 93 and Lakeshore Dr. Open daily from 8:30 am to 4:30
pm. See also www.nps.gov/lame.
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