- Navajo Lake
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- For the lake in Utah see Navajo Lake (Utah)
Navajo Lake 
Looking north. Navajo Dam is on the left side. Location Rio Arriba / San Juan counties in New Mexico; and
Archuleta County in Colorado, USACoordinates 36°48′00″N 107°36′47″W / 36.800°N 107.613°WCoordinates: 36°48′00″N 107°36′47″W / 36.800°N 107.613°W Lake type reservoir Primary inflows San Juan River, Piedra River Primary outflows San Juan River Basin countries United States Surface area 15,600 acres (63 km2) Surface elevation 6,085 ft (1,855 m) 
Navajo Lake is a reservoir located in San Juan County and Rio Arriba County in northwestern New Mexico, in the southwestern United States. Portions of the reservoir extend into Archuleta County in southern Colorado. The lake is part of the Colorado River Storage Project, which here manages the upper reaches of the San Juan River, storing and releasing water that is used locally for irrigation, or ultimately reaching the Colorado River in Utah. Water is impounded in Navajo Lake by the earth- and rock-filled Navajo Dam, 3,800 feet (1,200 m) long and 400 feet (120 m) high, completed in 1962. The 15,600-acre (63 km2) lake is over 25 miles (40 km) long and lies at an elevation of up to 6,085 feet (1,855 m).
The construction of the dam and the resulting lake flooded and destroyed one of the Navajos' most sacred sites.[1]
Two shoreline areas near the dam in New Mexico are part of the Navajo Lake State Park, featuring over 200 camping and picnic sites, and two improved boat ramps and a marina. The river shorelines below the dam are also part of the state park, as well as a BLM Recreation Area. An area in Colorado near the head of the lake is the Navajo State Recreation Area. The lake is an excellent destination for camping and general boating, as well Smallmouth Bass, Black Crappie, Northern Pike, Channel Catfish, and Trout fishing.
References
- ^ Linford, Laurance. Navajo Places. History, Legend, Landscape. University of Utah Press. Salt Lake City: 2000.
External links
Dams Glen Canyon Dam · Flaming Gorge Dam · Navajo Dam · Crystal Dam · Morrow Point Dam · Blue Mesa Dam
Reservoirs Lake Powell · Flaming Gorge Reservoir · Navajo Lake · Crystal Reservoir · Morrow Point Reservoir · Blue Mesa Reservoir
Water resources projects Bostwick Park Project · Central Utah Project · Dallas Creek Project · Dolores Project · Eden Project · Emery County Project · Florida Project · Hammond Project · Lyman Project · Navajo Indian Irrigation Project · Paonia Project · Pine River Project · San Juan-Chama Project · Seedskadee Project · Silt Project · Smith Fork Project
Rivers Colorado River · Green River · Gunnison River · San Juan River
Categories:- Geography of Archuleta County, Colorado
- New Mexico state parks
- Reservoirs in New Mexico
- Landforms of Rio Arriba County, New Mexico
- Landforms of San Juan County, New Mexico
- Parks in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico
- Parks in San Juan County, New Mexico
- Colorado River Storage Project
- Buildings and structures in San Juan County, New Mexico
- Buildings and structures in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico
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