A series of mysteries at the bottom of America’s largest freshwater reservoir

As one of the largest freshwater reservoirs in the United States, from the beginning of May until now, the water level in Lake Mead to a record low and has revealed unexpected mysteries.

It’s a body stuffed in a barrel of wine, a set of intact remains, the wreckage of a B-29 plane, prehistoric salt mines, ghost towns and lost cities…

“The above is just the tip of the iceberg. In my opinion, there are many other mysteries at the bottom of the lake Mead that we haven’t discovered yet,” said Travis Heggie, a former official of the US National Park Service.

The mysteries were revealed one after another when Lake Mead was first filled with water in 1934 but now the water level is down to about 30%.

The body was discovered stuffed in the barrel when the water of Lake Mead was low. Photo: USA Today

In early May, a boat crew discovered a body stuffed in a crate in the Hemenway Harbor marina area, southwest of Lake Mead.

Investigators said the body inside the barrel of wine appeared to have been shot dead between the mid-1970s and the early 1980s, more than 40 years ago.

“The reason why the investigators made the above judgment was based on the clothes and shoes that the victim wore. At that time, the water in Lake Mead was very full, the shallowest place was also about 6-9 m” – according to the report. Daily News USA Today.

And yet, on May 7, another body was discovered by surfers in the Callville Bay area, northeast where the body was found stuffed in a crate. Both deaths are under investigation by authorities, but they declined to provide information or comment on the case.

“I suspect many of the bodies found in Lake Mead could have been boaters and swimmers who drowned or died of carbon monoxide poisoning. However, I also suspect bodies lying on the bottom. It’s probably a murder,” said Travis Heggie.

Lake Mead was formed by separating the Colorado River from the Hoover Dan River. History has seen it filled with water a few times, but in recent years the water level has dropped to record lows.

Ruins of the “ghost town” of St. Thomas in the Lake Mead area. Photo: USA Today

“Ghost Town” and “Lost City”

Among the “ghost towns” now jutting out of the water are St. Thomas, where the Mormons were once settled. It was once an important stop on the pioneering route from Salt Lake City to Los Angles. When the lake was full, the water surface was about 18 meters higher than the top of the tallest building in town, but now the whole area has reappeared.

Still lurking under the water is the Pueblo Grande de Nevada, also known as the “Lost City”. It was once inhabited by the Puebloans, but they abandoned the city hundreds of years ago.

In addition, there are caves where Native Americans made salt to preserve food.

“I also think there are sunken boats, stolen cars and even guns that have been dumped on the bottom of Lake Mead,” he said.

Many mysterious corpses were discovered when Lake Mead dried up. Photo: USA Today