Lake Mead is the reservoir behind Hoover Dam. It is the largest artificial lake in the United States. It lies about 15 miles (24 kilometers) east of Las Vegas, Nevada. Lake Mead is 115 miles (185 kilometers) long and has the capacity to store about 28 million acre-feet (35 billion cubic meters) of water. It covers about 250 square miles (650 square kilometers). The lake is the center of a recreational area. The National Park Service administers Lake Mead.
Hoover Dam was completed in 1935. It blocked the Colorado River, forming a reservoir that flooded Boulder Canyon. Lake Mead first reached its capacity in 1941. Its highest water level was recorded in 1983. Since 2000, record drought and increased water usage have led to lower water levels. In 2021, federal officials for the first time declared a water shortage at Lake Mead. The declaration required Arizona, Nevada, and Mexico to reduce their use of water from the reservoir. 
See also Hoover Dam.
