© shutterstock

Inaugurated in 1936 -

Lake Mead is a man-made reservoir created in 1936 when the Hoover Dam was built. Located on the Nevada-Arizona border, this impressive engineering marvel has provided water and power for the region for decades. 

© Getty Images

A wide stretch of water -

Lake Mead spans 115 mi (185 km) in length and has a width ranging from one to 10 miles (1.6 to 16 km). It can hold up to 9.3 trillion gallons (42 trillion liters) of water

© Getty Images

Lake Mead National Recreation Area -

The lake and its surroundings were declared the Lake Mead National Recreation Area in 1936, an area stretching from the Grand Canyon in Colorado to the Davis Dam in Nevada.

© Getty Images

A popular destination -

The region boasts various beaches, marinas, and water sports amenities. Roughly eight million people, mainly Las Vegas locals, visit annually.

© Getty Images

An important resource -

The reservoir supplies drinking water for over 25 million individuals in Nevada and Arizona. It also feeds vital resources such as irrigation and hydroelectric power.

© Getty Images

Diminishing potential -

Although it is technically considered the largest reservoir in the US, since 1999 it has not reached anywhere near its full capacity.

© Getty Images

Years of drought -

As of summer 2022, the water levels of the reservoir had fallen to a mere 27% of its vast capacity due to a drought that has persisted for over twenty years.

© Getty Images

A growing crisis -

In fact over the past two decades, Lake Mead and the Colorado River have been experiencing a steady decline in water levels. According to scientists, this prolonged period of drought is the most extensive in over 1,200 years.

© Getty Images

Seen from space -

NASA satellites are needed to effectively monitor the intensity of the drought and its impact on the environment. 

© Getty Images

Las Vegas -

The drought is thought to result from both reduced rainfall due to climate change, and increased demand as a result of population growth. The close proximity to Las Vegas and its growing number of residents has put further strain on the already limited water supply.

© Shutterstock 

The closure of facilities -

Apart from the negative impact on the nearby residents and farming, the decrease in water levels has resulted in the closure of several facilities on Lake Mead. Marinas had to cease operations as they were unable to expand their jetties and boat ramps further to reach the shrinking shoreline.

© Getty Images

Secondary effects -

As a result, there was a decrease in usage, impacting the nearby hospitality businesses situated around the lake.

© Getty Images

Peak popularity -

Lake Mead reached the peak of its popularity for visitors in the 1950s, as Las Vegas started to become the metropolis it is today and attracted countless celebrities. Tourism in Nevada grew and those who visited Sin City often frequented Lake Mead to cool off with a day at the beach or while taking a boat trip.

© Getty Images 

A popular tourist destination -

New hotels and recreational facilities started appearing around Lake Mead to accommodate the rising influx of tourists. These included unique options like "floatels" (hotels on boats) and restaurants that floated on the water. Famous celebrities like Don Rickles and Harry Belafonte were regular patrons of these establishments.

© Getty Images

The "bathtub ring" -

The destination's popularity grew steadily until the 1980s, when water levels started to decline. The receding lake resulted in the formation of a "bathtub ring" made of white mineral deposits, which deterred sailors and swimmers.

© Getty Images

Becoming a ghost town -

Marinas attempted to relocate to maintain their position above disappearing water levels. But all this did was take them further away from existing hotels and restaurants. This led in turn led to a further decline in business and abandonment of the majority of the luxurious amenities at the Lake Mead Recreational area.

© Getty Images

Lake Mead today -

By 2022, the once enjoyable beaches and bays that attracted tourists had now transformed into arid wastelands. These desolate areas are serve as remnants of the lake bed and are scattered with abandoned boats and artifacts from previous eras, items that are gradually emerging as the shoreline retreats.

© Getty Images

History uncovered at Lake Mead -

Various peculiar discoveries have been made in the lake, such as a submerged B-29 plane, downed in 1948.

© Getty Images

Submerged secrets -

In addition, a sunken ship from the Second World War was found, along with some grisly discoveries. 

© Getty Images

Grisly discoveries -

In May 2022, boaters discovered a barrel on Lake Mead containing the remains of a man who had suffered a gunshot wound to the head. The incident is said to have taken place anywhere between the mid-1970s to early '80s.

© Getty Images

A mob hit? -

The gruesome find is likely the result of a mob hit given the nature of the wounds, the way the body was concealed, and the proximity to Las Vegas, a town historically linked to the Mafia.

© Getty Images

The Las Vegas connection -

The Mob Museum in Nevada has confirmed that the skeletal remains dates back to a period in Las Vegas history known for its extreme violence, described as "an era of record-breaking street crimes and underworld assassinations."

© Getty Images

Before the casinos -

Las Vegas was once a modest desert town lacking excitement, but in the 1940s, New York crime bosses recognized its potential as a gambling hotspot and launched investigations into its prospects.

© Getty Images

Mob investment -

The first luxurious casino was opened in 1946. Las Vegas saw the inauguration of The Flamingo as the first of several mobster-funded gambling establishments.

© Getty Images

Famous faces -

The Chicago Outfit gang also established a presence in the thriving city. They established the Stardust Casino, a prominent venue that attracted renowned performers such as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, both of whom were speculated to have ties to the underworld. This association with notable figures enhanced Las Vegas' reputation as a popular tourist destination.

© Getty Images

"Sin City" -

The undeniable influence of the Mafia on Las Vegas is evident in its current state as the notorious "Sin City." Therefore, the recent unearthing of human remains at the nearby Lake Mead establishes an intriguing correlation between climate change and the city's dark past.

© Getty Images

The perfect crime -

The large, isolated lake could have been a perfect spot to get rid of a body undetected. But few could have predicted such a drop in water levels. 

© Getty Images

More human remains -

In May 2022, approximately two weeks after the body in the barrel was found, additional bones were encountered by a duo of sisters while paddleboarding on the lake. Initially mistaking them for a sheep's skeleton, it was later revealed that these were indeed more human remains.

© Getty Images

Remains identified -

The remains were later determined to be those of a 39-year-old man who is thought to have drowned in the reservoir almost fifty years ago. (On March 28, 2023, officials revealed that the deceased individual, Donald Smith, was a resident of Las Vegas and reportedly drowned in April 1974, according to CNN.) It's  believed to have been an accidental death.

© Getty Images

More gruesome remains found -

On July 25, 2022, an additional distressing finding occurred as more human bones were uncovered due to the retreat of the shoreline. Further partial human remains were found on both August 6 and August 15. These discoveries took place within the Swim Beach region of Lake Mead, and authorities are still actively working to determine whether the bones belong to a single individual or multiple individuals.

© Getty Images

What next? -

Ongoing investigations are being carried out to determine the identities of the deceased and the causes of their deaths. Local historians predict that further findings will arise at Lake Mead as the water gradually reveals hidden historical mysteries. 

Sources: Sources: (Britannica) (The Guardian) (CNN) (NPR) (National Crime Syndicate) 

See also: The oldest, largest, and deepest lake in the world

© Getty Images