- Big Stone Lake
Infobox lake
lake_name = Big Stone Lake
image_lake =
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = WesternMinnesota , northeasternSouth Dakota
coords = coord|45|24|28|N|96|37|04|W|region:US_type:waterbody_source:dewiki|display=inline,title
type =reservoir
inflow =Little Minnesota River
outflow =Minnesota River
catchment =
basin_countries = United States
length = 26 mi (42 km)
width =
area = 12,610 acres (51 km²)
depth = 965 ft (294 m)
max-depth =
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation =
islands =
cities = Ortonville MN, Big Stone City SD , Browns Valley MNBig Stone Lake is a long, narrow
freshwater lake and reservoir forming the border between westernMinnesota and northeasternSouth Dakota . The lake covers 12,610 acres (51 km²) of surface area, stretching 26 miles (42 km) from end to end and averaging around 1 mile (2 km) wide, and at an elevation of 965 feet (294 m) is the lowest point in South Dakota. Big Stone Lake is the source of theMinnesota River , which flows 332 miles (534 km) to theMississippi River . Flow from the lake to the Minnesota River is regulated by theBig Stone Lake Dam , located at the southern end of the lake. The lake is fed by theLittle Minnesota River at its north end, which flows through theTraverse Gap . Big Stone was formed at the end of the lastice age when glacialLake Agassiz drained through the gap intoGlacial River Warren . The valley of that river now holds Big Stone Lake.Two
state park s are located at the lake:Big Stone Lake State Park in Minnesota andHartford Beach State Park in South Dakota. The two parks provide picnic, boat launching, trail, and camping facilities. An educational center at the lake is part of the Minnesota state park. Several vacation resorts are located along the shores of Big Stone Lake as well. Visitors to the lake are attracted to the lake especially for itsfishing :walleye , northern pike, andbluegill s are all populargame fish with anglers, and the lake contains over 30 other species. There are 12 public accesses for fishing use. The fish is stocked once every two years with 7,000,000 walleye fry.The communities of
Ortonville, Minnesota andBig Stone City, South Dakota are located at the southern tip of the lake;Browns Valley, Minnesota is located at the northern tip.References
* [http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/big_stone_lake/index.html "Big Stone Lake"] . Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved July 29, 2005.
* [http://www.byways.org/browse/byways/2211/places/37435/ "Big Stone Lake"] .United States Department of Transportation . Retrieved July 29, 2005.
* [http://www.bigstonelake.com/ Big Stone Lake Area Chamber of Commerce] . Viewed July 29, 2005.
*PDF| [http://www.epa.gov/region8/water/nps/sdbigstone.pdf "Big Stone Lake Restoration Project"] |255 KiB . Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved July 29, 2005.
*Spading, Kenton (January 2000). PDF| [http://www.mvp-wc.usace.army.mil/projects/docs/BrownsValleyDike.pdf "Browns Valley Dike"] |2.17 MiB .United States Army Corps of Engineers .
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