The construction of Hoover Dam led to the creation of Lake Mead, a huge reservoir more than 110mi long which drowned much of the area's historic heritage. At the same time, the appearance of a lake in the middle of the Mojave desert, the smallest, hottest and driest of the American deserts, has resulted in the creation of the Lake Mead Recreational Area, an area popular with American holidaymakers who are attracted by the water sports on offer here.