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What is the largest reservoir in New Mexico?

The Elephant Butte Reservoir is the largest reservoir in New Mexico, and one of the few in this arid state. It is named after the unusual (and some say elephant-shaped) rock jutting out of the water.



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Located in southern New Mexico and fed by the Rio Grande, Elephant Butte is New Mexico's largest reservoir. Created in 1915 with the construction of the Elephant Butte Dam, the reservoir provides water for about 90,000 acres (364 square kilometers) of farmland and nearly half the population of El Paso, Texas.

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The park's nine lakes are not actually lakes, and they are not actually bottomless. They are sinkholes filled with water (or cenotes, if you prefer) that range from 17 to 90 feet deep. It's the unique blue-green color given off by underwater plants that makes the bodies of water look endless.

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5 Dams in the U.S. that Hold the Most Water
  • Hoover Dam (Nevada/Arizona): 8.95 cubic miles.
  • Glen Canyon Dam (Arizona): 8.53 cubic miles.
  • Garrison Dam (North Dakota): 7.05 cubic miles.
  • Oahe Dam (South Dakota): 6.98 cubic miles.
  • Fort Peck Dam (Montana): 5.52 cubic miles.


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The largest hydroelectric plant in the United States is at Grand Coulee Dam. Its three powerplants have a capacity of 6,809 MW, and it generates, on average, about 21 billion KWh, while Hoover Dam's powerplant has a capacity of 2,074 MW and generates approximately 4 billion KWh a year.

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Heron Lake in New Mexico isn't only one of the cleanest lakes in the state, but it's also a reservoir that's fed by the Rio Chema, which is part of the Rio Grande watershed, so it's constantly being flushed out. Besides swimming, there are so many activities at this lake found within a beautiful New Mexico state park.

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