description Elephant Butte Overview
A volcanic rock formation in Sierra County, New Mexico, that lends its name to Elephant Butte Reservoir, created by a dam on the Rio Grande completed in 1916.
help Elephant Butte FAQ
Is Elephant Butte the rock formation or the reservoir?
Elephant Butte is a volcanic rock formation in Sierra County, New Mexico, and it gave its name to Elephant Butte Reservoir. Elephant Butte Dam is the concrete dam on the Rio Grande that created the reservoir. [Bureau of Reclamation](https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=94)
When was Elephant Butte Dam completed?
The dam was completed in 1916, although storage operation began in 1915. It was built as part of the Rio Grande Project for irrigation and power in the Southwest. [Bureau of Reclamation](https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=94)
How far is Elephant Butte from El Paso?
The Bureau of Reclamation places Elephant Butte Dam about 125 miles north of El Paso, Texas. The site is on the Rio Grande in New Mexico. [Bureau of Reclamation](https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=94)
How large is Elephant Butte Dam?
The dam is 301 feet high and 1,674 feet long, and its reservoir has a listed capacity of 2,210,298 acre-feet. Those figures describe the dam and reservoir, not the height of the named volcanic butte itself. [Bureau of Reclamation](https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=94)
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