Elephant Butte Lake State Park

Geobox|Protected area
name = Elephant Butte Lake State Park
category =
category_iucn = V


caption =
country = United States
country_

state = New Mexico
state_

state_type = State
region =
region_type = County
city_type =
city =
lat_d = 33
lat_m = 15
lat_s = 00
lat_NS = N
long_d = 107
long_m = 10
long_s = 00
long_EW = W
area =
established =
map_locator = New Mexico


governing_body =
website =

Elephant Butte Lake State Park is a New Mexico state park located 125 miles north of El Paso, Texas along the shore of Elephant Butte Lake. Elephant Butte Reservoir is the largest reservoir and the largest state park in New Mexico. [http://www.recreation.gov/recAreaDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&recAreaId=100] The 36,000-acre reservoir created in 1916 across the Rio Grande, is 40 miles long with more than 200 miles of shoreline.

Recreation at Elephant Butte Reservoir is managed by the New Mexico State Parks under agreement with the United States Bureau of Reclamation. Elephant Butte Dam, constructed between 1911 and 1916, was a major engineering feat in its day. The enormous concrete dam is the major feature of the Elephant Butte National Register Historic District. New Mexico State Parks operates a visitor center that contains information on the construction of the dam. Nearest full-service community is Truth or Consequences, 7 miles south. The smaller town of Elephant Butte is located adjacent to the State Park. There are 3 developed camps on the lake, with over 200 camping and picnicking sites, concession-operated marinas, and stores.

References