Great American Lakes

Lake Lanier

CONTENTS Mountain Lakes 01 Emerald Lake 02 Flathead Lake 03 Jenny Lake 04 Lake Chelan 05 Lake McDonald 06 Lake Tahoe 07 Maroon Lake 08 Stanley Lake 09 Yellowstone Lake + Road trip

10 16 22 26 32 38 44 50 56 62

Ice Age Lakes 10 Devil’s Lake 11 Finger Lakes 12 Kenai Lake 13 Lake Champlain 14 Lake Coeur d’Alene 15 Lake George 16 Lake Placid 17 Lake Washington 18 Lake Willoughby 19 Lake Winnipesaukee 20 Priest Lake 21 Wonder Lake + Road trip

66 72 78 84 90 94 100 106 110 114 118 122 128

Ancient, Unusual, and Otherworldly Lakes 22 Crater Lake 23 Great Salt Lake 24 Lake Lucero 25 Mono Lake 26 Pyramid Lake 27 Salton Sea + Road trip

132 136 142 146 150 154 158

The Great Lakes: America’s Inland Seas 28 Lake Superior 29 Lake Michigan 30 Lake Huron 31 Lake Erie 32 Lake Ontario + Road trip

162 168 174 180 184 188

Engineered Waters 33 Broken Bow Lake 34 Diablo Lake 35 Lady Bird Lake 36 Lake Havasu 37 Lake Jocassee 38 Lake Lanier 39 Lake Mead 40 Lake of the Ozarks 41 Lake Powell 42 Lake Santeetlah 43 Saguaro Lake 44 Summersville Lake 45 Sylvan Lake + Road trip

192 198 202 206 210 216 220 226 232 238 242 246 252 256

Wetland and Floodplain Lakes 46 Caddo Lake 47 Lake Chicot 48 Lake Okeechobee 49 Lake Pepin 50 Reelfoot Lake + Road trip

260 266 270 274 278 284

5

Lake Lanier

CONTENTS Mountain Lakes 01 Emerald Lake 02 Flathead Lake 03 Jenny Lake 04 Lake Chelan 05 Lake McDonald 06 Lake Tahoe 07 Maroon Lake 08 Stanley Lake 09 Yellowstone Lake + Road trip

10 16 22 26 32 38 44 50 56 62

Ice Age Lakes 10 Devil’s Lake 11 Finger Lakes 12 Kenai Lake 13 Lake Champlain 14 Lake Coeur d’Alene 15 Lake George 16 Lake Placid 17 Lake Washington 18 Lake Willoughby 19 Lake Winnipesaukee 20 Priest Lake 21 Wonder Lake + Road trip

66 72 78 84 90 94 100 106 110 114 118 122 128

Ancient, Unusual, and Otherworldly Lakes 22 Crater Lake 23 Great Salt Lake 24 Lake Lucero 25 Mono Lake 26 Pyramid Lake 27 Salton Sea + Road trip

132 136 142 146 150 154 158

The Great Lakes: America’s Inland Seas 28 Lake Superior 29 Lake Michigan 30 Lake Huron 31 Lake Erie 32 Lake Ontario + Road trip

162 168 174 180 184 188

Engineered Waters 33 Broken Bow Lake 34 Diablo Lake 35 Lady Bird Lake 36 Lake Havasu 37 Lake Jocassee 38 Lake Lanier 39 Lake Mead 40 Lake of the Ozarks 41 Lake Powell 42 Lake Santeetlah 43 Saguaro Lake 44 Summersville Lake 45 Sylvan Lake + Road trip

192 198 202 206 210 216 220 226 232 238 242 246 252 256

Wetland and Floodplain Lakes 46 Caddo Lake 47 Lake Chicot 48 Lake Okeechobee 49 Lake Pepin 50 Reelfoot Lake + Road trip

260 266 270 274 278 284

5

LAKE CHELAN

04

LAKE CHELAN GATEWAY TO NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK

Stretching more than 50 miles into the North Cascades, Lake Chelan fills a long, narrow trench carved by glaciers and ranks among the deepest lakes in the United States, reaching nearly 1,500 feet. The lake’s southern end sits at a relatively low elevation and is easily accessible, while its northern end remains remote, bordered by wilderness and national parkland.

Location: Chelan County, Washington Surface area: 50 square miles Maximum depth: 1,486 feet Where to stay: Chelan is the primary town on the lake’s southern end. Top feature: Stehekin, a remote community at the lake’s northern end, is accessible only by boat, plane, or trail.

27

LAKE CHELAN

04

LAKE CHELAN GATEWAY TO NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK

Stretching more than 50 miles into the North Cascades, Lake Chelan fills a long, narrow trench carved by glaciers and ranks among the deepest lakes in the United States, reaching nearly 1,500 feet. The lake’s southern end sits at a relatively low elevation and is easily accessible, while its northern end remains remote, bordered by wilderness and national parkland.

Location: Chelan County, Washington Surface area: 50 square miles Maximum depth: 1,486 feet Where to stay: Chelan is the primary town on the lake’s southern end. Top feature: Stehekin, a remote community at the lake’s northern end, is accessible only by boat, plane, or trail.

27

KENAI LAKE

12

KENAI LAKE TURQUOISE WATERS

A 22-mile turquoise artery through the Kenai Mountains, Kenai Lake traces the path of an ancient glacier that carved through the surrounding rock.

Today, it is fed by glacial meltwater carrying fine sediment known as rock flour. This suspended material scatters light and gives the lake its distinctive turquoise color.

Location: Kenai Peninsula, Alaska Surface area: 21.6 square miles Maximum depth: 540 feet Where to stay: Cooper Landing, Alaska Top feature: A bright turquoise hue that makes the lake highly photogenic.

79

KENAI LAKE

12

KENAI LAKE TURQUOISE WATERS

A 22-mile turquoise artery through the Kenai Mountains, Kenai Lake traces the path of an ancient glacier that carved through the surrounding rock.

Today, it is fed by glacial meltwater carrying fine sediment known as rock flour. This suspended material scatters light and gives the lake its distinctive turquoise color.

Location: Kenai Peninsula, Alaska Surface area: 21.6 square miles Maximum depth: 540 feet Where to stay: Cooper Landing, Alaska Top feature: A bright turquoise hue that makes the lake highly photogenic.

79

MONO LAKE

25

MONO LAKE AN ALIEN LANDSCAPE

Mono Lake is one of the oldest lakes in North America, estimated to be more than one million years old. Like other terminal lakes in the Great Basin, it’s endorheic—meaning it has no outlet— allowing dissolved minerals to accumulate over time, giving the water its highly alkaline, saline character.

Location: California Surface area: ~70 square miles Maximum depth: ~160 feet Where to stay: Lee Vining serves as the primary gateway. Top feature: Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve features the lake’s iconic tufa formations, accessible via walking trails.

147

MONO LAKE

25

MONO LAKE AN ALIEN LANDSCAPE

Mono Lake is one of the oldest lakes in North America, estimated to be more than one million years old. Like other terminal lakes in the Great Basin, it’s endorheic—meaning it has no outlet— allowing dissolved minerals to accumulate over time, giving the water its highly alkaline, saline character.

Location: California Surface area: ~70 square miles Maximum depth: ~160 feet Where to stay: Lee Vining serves as the primary gateway. Top feature: Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve features the lake’s iconic tufa formations, accessible via walking trails.

147

DIABLO LAKE

34

DIABLO LAKE A HUMAN-MADE GLACIAL LAKE

Formed in 1930 with the construction of Diablo Dam on the Skagit River, Diablo Lake is part of a three-dam hydroelectric system that helped power the growth of Seattle—and

continues to power the city today. Yet thanks to its extraordinary setting deep within North Cascades National Park, it’s easy to mistake this reservoir for a natural lake.

Location: North Cascades National Park, Washington Surface area: 910 acres Maximum depth: 240 feet Where to stay: Marblemount and Concrete serve as gateways to North Cascades National Park.

Top feature: Diablo Lake Overlook offers one of the most iconic views in the North Cascades.

199

DIABLO LAKE

34

DIABLO LAKE A HUMAN-MADE GLACIAL LAKE

Formed in 1930 with the construction of Diablo Dam on the Skagit River, Diablo Lake is part of a three-dam hydroelectric system that helped power the growth of Seattle—and

continues to power the city today. Yet thanks to its extraordinary setting deep within North Cascades National Park, it’s easy to mistake this reservoir for a natural lake.

Location: North Cascades National Park, Washington Surface area: 910 acres Maximum depth: 240 feet Where to stay: Marblemount and Concrete serve as gateways to North Cascades National Park.

Top feature: Diablo Lake Overlook offers one of the most iconic views in the North Cascades.

199

Text: Stefanie Waldek Book Design: Han van de Ven Copy Editing: Melanie Shapiro

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