Blue Mesa Dam is a 390ft. high earth and rock fill dam. It was the first large dam built on the Gunnison River. Finished in 1965, Blue Mesa Dam impounded the Gunnison River to create the largest body of water in Colorado. Blue Mesa Reservoir is 20 miles long with 96 mile of shoreline. While Blue Mesa Dam does produce hydroelectricity, its primary purpose is to store water. Blue Mesa Dam can be viewed from the Blue Mesa Dam Overlook on CO Highway 92 approximately 1 mile from the junction with U.S. Highway 50.