Drought has a way of revealing things.
In the case of Lake Mead, America’s largest reservoir, diminishing waters have in recent months uncovered long-buried secrets...
Since May, four sets of human remains have been discovered.
With the details, here’s our World News Editor Kate Gregan.
Lake Mead is shrinking - and as the water level plunges, grisly discoveries from a dark past are being uncovered.
The first human remains were found on the 1st of May.
Shawna Hollister was enjoying a day at the lake with her family, before a shocking discovery.
"We heard a woman scream from the side of the beach and then my husband went over to see what was wrong and then he realised there was a body there in a barrel."
The remains of a man were found in a corroding barrel with a gunshot wound.
Based on the victim's clothing, police believe the body was likely dumped in the mid-1970s or early 80s.
Less than one week later - more remains were uncovered.
Lindsey Melvin was exploring the lake with her sister, Lynette when they discovered more than they expected.
"We kind of kept digging around it we thought it was big horn sheep at first, but as we discovered more and more bones, especially the jaw bone, we realised this is definitely human."
Lake Mead is a thirty-minute drive from the Las Vegas strip.
It's manmade and was created with the completion of the Hoover Dam in the 1930s.
It's also a crucial water source for 25 million people.
But a gruelling drought has depleted the lake, and the water level has dropped more than 52 metres since the '80s [1983].
A third set of remains -- found at a popular swimming spot - were discovered on the 25th of July.
It looks like we found something, the man said.
It looks like a body.
Authorities are now working to identify the victims bodies - but they expect more remains will be found.
In the meantime, many visitors to the lake are trying to push the recent discoveries out of their minds..
"See I try not to think about it too much but then every now and then when you are going across the water and you look down and you think what could be down there."
But human remains aren't the only discovery to be made in Lake Mead - a landing craft from the Second World War also emerged from the waters in July.
