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World War II-Era Boat Exposed at Lake Mead as Water Levels Decline

Stephanie Wenger
·2-min read
LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA, NEVADA - JULY 01: A sunken World War II-Era Higgins landing craft that used to be nearly 200 feet underwater is being revealed near the Lake Mead Marina as the waterline continues to lower on July 01, 2022 in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada. The water level at Lake Mead is at its lowest since being filled in 1937 after the construction of the Hoover Dam as a result of a climate change-fueled megadrought coupled with increased water demands in the Southwestern United States. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Ethan Miller/Getty

A World War II-era boat was spotted more than halfway out of the water at Nevada's Lake Mead this week as the lake's water levels continue to decline.

The Higgins landing craft — which was previously 185 feet below the lake's surface —  is located less than a mile from Lake Mead Marina and Hemenway Harbor, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Associated Press and KLAS.

The boat was a popular diving destination for years before it emerged, KLAS reported.

RELATED: More Human Remains Discovered in Lake Mead, Less than a Week After Body in Barrel Was Found

The vessel was previously used to survey the Colorado River, then was purchased by a marina, and finally sunk to become anchor, D.J. Jenner of Las Vegas Scuba told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

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Las Vegas Scuba did not immediately return PEOPLE's request for comment.

Earlier this week, the boat was featured on the YouTube channel The Other Me.

RELATED: 'Very Good Chance' More Bodies Will Be Discovered in Lake Where Body in Barrel Was Found: Police

LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA, NEVADA - JULY 01: A sunken World War II-Era Higgins landing craft that used to be nearly 200 feet underwater is being revealed near the Lake Mead Marina as the waterline continues to lower on July 01, 2022 in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada. The water level at Lake Mead is at its lowest since being filled in 1937 after the construction of the Hoover Dam as a result of a climate change-fueled megadrought coupled with increased water demands in the Southwestern United States. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Ethan Miller/Getty

RELATED: Police Reveal How and When the Person Whose Body Was Found in Barrel at Lake Mead Was Killed

New Orleans-based Higgins Industries — which was owned by entrepreneur Andrew J. Higgins —built several thousand land crafts from 1942 to 1945, Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. The company created two versions of the boat — one was a personal landing craft and the other larger style was designed for tanks.

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Higgins Industries made the landing craft that was used during the D-Day invasion in 1944, according to KLAS.

Climate change and drought have caused the lake's water levels to drop to their lowest levels, according to the AP.