Virtual tour panorama showing Lake Mead from a viewpoint near the Hoover Dam. It is the last stopping point before the checkpoints for those wishing to visit the dam itself. This panoramic picture was taken in 2008.

Lake Mead Viewpoint near Hoover Dam - Hoover Dam visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Lake Mead Viewpoint near Hoover Dam' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Nevada.

This viewpoint is close to the 172 on the approach to the Hoover Dam and is also on the Historic Railroad Hiking Trail. It overlooks part of Lake Mead showing Hemenway Harbour from which the Lake Mead cruises depart.

Lake Mead is a man made lake created by the construction of the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, now part of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. It also forms part of the boundary between Nevada and Arizona. The lake extends 112 miles behind the dam, holding approximately 35.2 km³ of water, and is named after Elwood Mead (1858–1936). As well as being a vital water resource for Las Vegas and Boulder City, lake mead also provides water to power the turbines within the Hoover Dam and has become a major recreational park for the region.

The lake is divided into several sections, that closes to the Hoover Dam is known as the Boulder Basin. This is connected to the Virgin Basin to the east by The Narrows (Boulder Canyon). Continuing east from here are Temple Basin, Gregg Basin and finally Temple Basin. It is into here that the Colorado River flows having passed through the Grand Canyon some 180 miles east as the crow flies.

The Virgin Basin extends north to the Overton Arm which is fed by the Muddy River and Virgin River at the northernmost point. Around the lake are various bays and washes that are under water in times of flood, but otherwise are dry. In the canyons, the high point of the lake is clearly displayed by a line of bleached rock. The lake is surrounded by the River Mountains and Muddy Mountains, which form stunning backdrops, especially at sunset.

Lake Mead - Water Levels

Lake Mead is dependant on water from the Virgin and Colorado Rivers. The whole region has suffered from drought for several years now, and the lake has reached the lowest levels, being currently only about 40% full. This poses problems for both the Hoover Dam, water consumption by Las Vegas and the surrounding region, as well as the ecosystems downriver on the Colorado.

If water levels drop below the intake levels of the Hoover Dam (about 220m), then not only will the dam cease to produce electricity, but also there will be no water flowing below it into the river, which will have disastrous consequences for all the communities and ecosystems downstream. Climate change, resulting in reduced rainfall and increased evaporation, as well as increasing demands of Las Vegas are all putting critical strains on Lake Mead.

Road: This viewpoint is near the Hoover Dam, 8 miles from Boulder City and about 30 miles Southeast of Las Vegas on the I-93. Approach to the dam is slow due to both security checks and a speed limit of 15 mph across the dam itself.
Flight: Boulder City Municipal Airport, McCarran International Airport (Las Vegas).