With its rugged mountains, deep canyons, stark deserts, and two large blue lakes, America’s first national recreation area is a place of great contrasts.
Looking into Black Canyon and a narrow, river-like portion of Lake Mohave. To the left is Davis Dam and to the right, Hoover Dam.
The blue water before you is the western end of Lake Mead. From this overlook, a mere ten percent of the 110-mile long man-made reservoir is visible. Hoover Dam, seven miles to the east, has turned the sometimes violent Colorado River into the still waters of Lake Mead. Today, Hoover Dam delivers irrigation, drinking water and hydroelectric power to Nevada, Arizona and Southern California.
Boulder City, the city that built Hoover Dam.
When the U.S. government started dam construction in 1931, on-site housing was needed for thousands of workers. Boulder City grew out of the desert to meet this demand, becoming the first planned community in the United States. Historic Boulder City is now the gateway to year-round water sports and backcountry adventures available at Lake Mead National Recreation Area.