Lake Mead: largest US reservoir falls to historic low amid devastating drought

The reservoir will be at its lowest since the 1930s when the Hoover dam was built, and officials expect levels to get worse

Levels in Lake Mead - the largest US reservoir by volume - fell to historic lows on Thursday, as the region continues to face the effects of a devastating prolonged drought.

Stationed on the main stem of the Colorado River in the Mojave along the Arizona-Nevada border, Lake Mead was formed with the construction of the Hoover dam, which generates electricity for areas in Arizona, California and Nevada. It provides water for urban, rural and tribal lands across the south-west.