Elephant Butte Reservoir is located in southern New Mexico and is the state’s largest reservoir. It is a part of the 36,000-acre Elephant Butte Lake State Park. Created by Elephant Butte Dam on the Rio Grande in 1916, which was named after a rock formation resembling an elephant, it provides flood control, irrigation, and hydroelectric power. The reservoir offers over 200 miles of shoreline and recreational activities like fishing, boating, hiking, and camping. It once held the title of the largest man-made lake in the world and is home to diverse wildlife; it is the only place in New Mexico where you can see pelicans!