Apparent human remains found in US reservoir as water levels hit record low
Human remains have been discovered at Lake Mead as record-low water levels caused by drought expose the reservoir floor. Officials are investigating the discovery, which highlights the ongoing environmental crisis in the western United States.
Why it matters
The exposure of remains due to receding water levels serves as a stark visual indicator of the severe, climate-driven drought affecting major US water infrastructure.
Image source, Reuters Image caption, Water levels at Lake Mead have been dropping due to a drought
Potential human remains, including a jaw with teeth still attached, have been recovered from the largest reservoir in the US, officials said, as an ongoing drought causes water levels to drop across western states.
The US National Park Service said it received reports of apparent skeletal remains at Boulder Beach on Lake Mead, Nevada, on 16 August.
"National Park Service rangers and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department responded to the scene," the service said in a statement seen by the BBC's US partner CBS.
The service added that the incident "remains under investigation, and no additional information is available at this time".
Published 11 June 2021 Drought-stricken US warned of looming 'dead pool'
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