Clear Lake (Iowa)

Clear Lake
Location	Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Coordinates	43°07′32″N 93°25′29″W / 43.12556°N 93.42472°W / 43.12556; -93.42472Coordinates: 43°07′32″N 93°25′29″W / 43.12556°N 93.42472°W / 43.12556; -93.42472
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	3,684 acres (15 km2)
Average depth	12 ft (3.7 m)
Max. depth	30 ft (9.1 m)
Shore length1	27.6 mi (44.4 km)
Surface elevation	1,227 ft (374 m)
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

For the town, see Clear Lake, Iowa.

Clear Lake is the name of a natural body of water located in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa near Clear Lake, Iowa. It is approximately 3,684 acres (15 km²) in size. It is a popular fishing destination, with walleye, bullhead, yellow bass and channel catfish. People from Des Moines and Minneapolis – Saint Paul have had homes on the shores of the lake since the 1870s. The average depth is 10 feet (3 m) and the maximum depth is 30 feet (9 m), in the dredged area of the west end. The lake has 13.6 mi (22 km) of shoreline. Clear Lake State Park is located on the shores of the lake. As of 2004, the lake has seen major efforts undergone to restore its natural clarity, including filtration systems, dredging, and education of local farmers to reduce toxic pesticides from entering the lake.

Clear Lake is home to the Clear Lake Yacht Club, a sailing club in downtown Clear Lake, Iowa. Many members race and equally informally cruise the large lake. Each weekend between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the course is set on the main basin of the lake and boats can be seen racing for miles. Another sailing main stay, is the Cougar Bay beach. The 250-foot (76 m) beach is home to 60 to 100 Hobie Catamaran sailboats during the summer months. Clear Lake is the highest point in Cerro Gordo County, making wind always common on the water, and therefore a sailor's paradise.

Clear Lake has been named the "Best Iowa Lake Town" by The Des Moines Register and "A Top Vacation Spot" by Midwest Living magazine. There are several notable communities located on the lakefront, including Bell Harbor, and Dodge's Point, both are locations of summer estates for several notable families. Two other notable communities on the waterfront include The Venetian Village and The Harborage. Both of these sit on man made canals and harbors on the northern shore of the lake. The small town of Ventura sits on the northwestern basin of the lake. A hotel was located on Woodford Island until a fire leveled it in the 1930s.

Clear Lake is dotted with several different landmarks for orientation on the water. Woodford Island is often visible from every point on the lake, making it a navigational aid. Other landmarks include the Clear Lake State Park beach and nearby Cougar Bay beach on the southern shores, with the City of Clear Lake beach and seawall and water tower serving as navigational aids on the northern banks. The Strait of Ventura leading from the main basin to the section of the lake surrounding Ventura is also a major landmark, along with nearby "Farmer's Beach".

Waterfront walkway in Clear Lake.

External links

• Clear Lake General Information from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources
• U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Clear Lake
• Clear Lake State Park