Every Lake
Falcon International Reservoir
Falcon Dam, finished in 1954, drowned a 250-year-old Mexican town whose stone ruins still resurface in drought.
- 26 ft · first step
- 53 ft
- 79 ft
- 105 ft
- 131 ft
- 158 ft · bottom
About Falcon International Reservoir
Falcon International Reservoir was formed in 1954 when the United States and Mexico completed Falcon Dam on the Rio Grande, a joint project of the International Boundary and Water Commission. The dam backed up water across the border, and the reservoir now straddles both countries, with Zapata, Texas, as its main U.S. town. On the Mexican side, the rising water submerged Ciudad Guerrero, known as Guerrero Viejo, a colonial-era settlement founded in the 1750s.
Guerrero Viejo's stone church and plaza have resurfaced repeatedly during droughts, most notably in the early 2000s, when falling water levels exposed the old streets and buildings for the first time in decades. The lake sits along the Central Flyway and draws large numbers of wintering waterfowl. It is also a destination for largemouth bass fishing, with Zapata hosting bass tournaments through much of the year.
- 22 shore towns named, with a star on each
- 789 roads engraved around the shore, 1 of them labeled
- 6 depth layers, each step engraved with its depth in feet
- Compass rose, title block with coordinates, max depth and area; keyhole hanger on the back
Turn it in your hands
Live 3D of the actual cut files — drag to orbit, pinch to zoom. Every road you see is engraved on the real thing.
Viewer not showing? Open it full screen.
Falcon International Reservoir depth chart, in wood
This is a Falcon International Reservoir depth chart you can hang: 6 stacked layers of birch, each one a depth contour — 26 ft, 53 ft, 79 ft, 105 ft, 131 ft and deeper, down to the deepest hole at about 158 ft. The lake covers about 49.9 square miles, and 789 shore roads are engraved around it. The shape of the bottom is the real one from published soundings, so anglers recognise their drop-offs and points.
A Falcon International Reservoir map for the wall — or a gift
Most of these go to a cabin wall, a lake house entry, or a home office; a lot are gifts — the family that has been on Falcon International Reservoir for three generations, the retirement move, the first boat. The 12-inch is the desk-and-shelf size; the 24- and 30-inch boards read across a room. Add a line under the title and star your place on the shore, and it becomes the map of your Falcon International Reservoir.
Falcon International Reservoir map — the details
How big is the map?
Four sizes: 12, 17, 24 and 30 inches on the long side, from $149. Every size is cut from the same depth data of Falcon International Reservoir; the bigger boards carry more shoreline roads and place names.
Is it made from real depth data?
Yes. Falcon International Reservoir is cut layer by layer from published bathymetric soundings — each layer of birch is a depth contour, so the shape of the bottom is the real one, not decorative.
Can I add my own place on it?
Yes. At checkout you can add a line under the title (a family name, a cabin name, a year) and star the spot on the shore that matters to you.
How long does it take?
Made to order in Waterford, Pennsylvania and shipped in 7–10 days; shipping is free in the lower 48.
Can you make a lake that isn't listed?
Any lake in the United States — we hold depth data for 104,419 of them. Search for yours; if it isn't built yet we build it when you order.
- 6 depth layers down to 158 ft
- 49.9 square miles of water
- 789 shore roads engraved, 1 named
- Title block, compass rose and depth markers
- Birch plywood, keyhole hanger, made in Waterford, PA
