- Spirit Lake (Iowa)
Infobox lake
lake_name = Spirit Lake
image_lake =
caption_lake =
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location =Dickinson County, Iowa
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basin_countries = United States
length =
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area = 5,684 acres (23.01 km²)
depth = 17 ft (5 m)
max-depth = 24 ft (7.3 m)
volume =
residence_time =
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frozen =Big Spirit Lake is a natural body of water, approximately 5,684
acre s (23.01 km²) in area, in Dickinson County in northwestIowa in theUnited States . It is part of the chain of lakes known as theIowa Great Lakes , the northern shore of the lake straddles the border withMinnesota . It is the largest natural lake in Iowa. The Dakotah Indian name for the lake was Minnewaukon. Early French traders named it Lac D' Esprit after the Indian legends of an evil spirit who dwelled in the lake.Its maximum depth is 24 feet (7.3 m), and the mean depth is 17 feet (5 m). The drainage area of the lake is approximately 22 square miles (57 km²). It has a drainage area of approximately 75 mi² (194 km²), most of which is in Minnesota.
Geology
Geologically, the lake, like its neighbors, is a
glacial pothole , a remnant of the most recentice age approximately 13,000 years ago.Recreation
The lake is a popular fishing destination in the region. It contains over 40 species of fish, 13 of which are typically caught. Fishing for
walleye andyellow perch is typically done by boat or through the ice. Fishing forbullhead is common from the shore during the spring. A state-operated fish hatchery also provides significant populations oflargemouth bass ,smallmouth bass ,northern pike ,muskie ,crappie , andbluegill .The Iowa all-time big fish records for
freshwater drum andmuskellunge were set from catches in the lake.External links
* [http://www.iowadnr.com/fish/fishing/lakes/spl30s.html Iowa Department of Natural Resources site] on Spirit Lake
* [http://wqm.igsb.uiowa.edu/publications/lake_report01/SpiritLake/SpiritLake.htm University of Iowa site] on Spirit Lake chemistry
* [http://www.iowagreatlakes.net Iowa Great Lakes informational site] on Spirit Lake & surrounding area
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