What is the deepest lake in Arizona?, Why is it named Lake Powell?, How deep is Lake Powell?, What to do at Lake Powell, How to visit Lake Powell , What are the 5 deepest lakes in Arizona?

Arizona is not just a dry desert — the state has about 130 lakes and five major rivers, according to the Arizona Office of Tourism.

Though only two of the lakes are natural and the rest are human-made, these bodies of water allow residents and visitors to enjoy the outdoors all year round.

From Lake Pleasant in Peoria to Patagonia Lake in southern Arizona to Lake Powell up north and Lake Havasu on the border of both Arizona and California, there's something for everyone.

How to determine the deepest lake in Arizona is another question. The deepest lake is determined by the lake depth, measured by feet from the bottom. Other measures include water level, measured in feet above sea level, and lake volume.

People crowd Lake Pleasant for Labor Day Weekend on Sept. 2, 2023, in Morristown.

Here's what to know about the deepest lake in Arizona.

What is the deepest lake in Arizona?

Lake Powell is the deepest lake in Arizona with a maximum depth of 583 feet and an average depth of 132 feet. The second deepest lake is Lake Mead with a maximum depth of 532 feet.

Why is it named Lake Powell?

Lake Powell is one of the largest man-made reservoirs in the U.S. and lies on the Colorado River, straddling across Arizona and Colorado. The majority of the lake lies in southern Utah, but a small portion flows near Page in northern Arizona.

The reservoir was formed by the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam in northern Arizona in 1963. The dam was built to help control flooding in the Lower Colorado River Valley.

Lake Powell was named for John Wesley Powell, a Civil War veteran and explorer. He led multiple expeditions in the 1860s and '70s with the purpose of charting the Colorado River, which runs through the Grand Canyon.

Powell became the first director of the U.S. Bureau of Ethnology of the Smithsonian Institution in 1879 and was the second director of the U.S. Geological Survey from 1881 to 1894.

How deep is Lake Powell?

Lake Powell has a maximum depth of 583 feet and an average depth of 132 feet. The water elevation typically falls around 3,600 feet above sea level.

Lake Powell tends toward a year-over-year loss of water elevation. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the highest water level was recorded in July 1983, at around 3,700 feet above sea level. The lowest level since the reservoir was filled in 1980 was seen on April 13, 2023, when the water level measured around 3,500 feet.

The drying trend is due to a long-term drought in the Southwest. Other conditions include winter precipitation patterns and water runoff from the Rocky Mountains.

What to do at Lake Powell

Visitors can do a number of outdoor activities at Lake Powell, including boating, hiking, camping, swimming and fishing.

How to visit Lake Powell

Lake Powell is about a four-hour drive from Phoenix taking U.S. 89 and Interstate 17. Visitors can also take a one-hour plane ride from Phoenix to Page and rent a car to get to Lake Powell.

Glen Canyon Recreational Area is not free to enter unless you have the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. A standard pass costs $30 per week per passenger vehicle. Annual passes are available for $55. For more information about fees, see the Fees and Passes page of the National Park Service's Glen Canyon Dam section.

A popular destination on social media, Horseshoe Bend lies in the Glen Canyon area, near Lake Powell along the Colorado River.