Bear Lake (Idaho-Utah)

Infobox_lake
lake_name = Bear Lake
image_lake = DSCN6179 bearlake e.jpg
caption_lake = View from Bear Lake State Park in Idaho along its eastern shore
image_bathymetry = Bathymetry.jpg
caption_bathymetry = Bathymetric chart
location = Idaho/Utah
coords = coord|41|58|N|111|23|W|type:waterbody_region:US|display=inline,title
type =
inflow = Fish Haven Creek, Swan Creek, North Eden Creek, South Eden Creek
outflow = Bear River Outlet
catchment = convert|5862957|acre|abbr=on
basin_countries = United States
length = convert|18.3|mi|abbr=on
width = convert|7.1|mi|abbr=on
area = convert|109|sqmi|abbr=on
depth = convert|94|ft|abbr=on
max-depth = convert|208|ft|abbr=on
volume = convert|6500000|acre.ft|abbr=on|lk=on
residence_time = 19.6 years
shore = convert|48|mi|abbr=on
elevation = convert|5924|ft|abbr=on
islands =
cities = Garden City, Utah, Laketown, Utah, Fish Haven, Idaho

Bear Lake is a natural freshwater lake on the Utah-Idaho border in the Western United States. It is the second largest natural freshwater lake in Utah [http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/fishing/bearlake.html Bear Lake history & facts] . "Utah Division of Wildlife Resources."] and has been called the "Caribbean of the Rockies" for its unique turquoise-blue color, the result of suspended limestone deposits in the water. [ [http://www.utah.com/stateparks/bear_lake.htm Bear Lake State Park] . "Utah.com"] Its water properties have led to the evolution of several unique species that live naturally only within the lake. [http://esp.cr.usgs.gov/info/lacs/endemism.htm Bear Lake Geological Background: Endemism] . "U.S. Geological Survey".] It is supposed that Bear Lake was formed at least 150,000 years ago by fault subsidence that continues today, slowly deepening the lake along the eastern side. [ [http://esp.cr.usgs.gov/info/lacs/tectonism.htm Bear Lake Geological Background: Tectonism] "U.S. Geological Survey".]

Originally named Black Bear Lake by Donald Mackenzie, an explorer for the North West Fur Company who discovered the lake in 1819, the name was later changed to the current Bear Lake. [http://www.stateparks.utah.gov/park_pages/depth.php?id=blsp Bear Lake State Park: In Depth] . "Utah State Parks and Recreation."] The lake is a popular destination for tourists and sportsmen and the surrounding valley has gained a reputation for having high quality raspberries [http://www.utahoutdooractivities.com/bearlakerasp.html Bear Lake Raspberry Days] . "Utah Outdoor Activities".]

According to folklore, Bear Lake holds a lake monster: the so-called Bear Lake Monster. Although this originated with Joseph C. Rich, who later admitted to making up the monsterFact|date=July 2008, people continue to report sightings of the monster todayFact|date=July 2008.

History

The first known inhabitants of the Bear Lake Valley were Shoshone tribes, but the area was known to many Native Americans. The first record of whites seeing the lake is from 1818 when French-Canadian trappers working for the North West Company followed the Bear River upstream to the valley. Later, between 1825 and 1840, many mountain men, including Jedediah Smith and Jim Bridger, met on the south shore with Native Americans to swap goods and stories. This is the origin of the mountain man rendezvous which continue to this day in mid-September on Rendezvous Beach. It is from these trappers that Bear Lake received its well-deserved infamy for harsh winters.

Although the lake lies relatively near the Oregon Trail, which runs north and east of the lake, and was traveled by many pioneers between 1836 and the 1850s, it seems none of them went south enough to view the lake. It wasn't until 1863 that Mormon pioneers led by Charles C. Rich settled in the Bear Lake Valley, but they made an agreement with Native Americans which left most of the Utah portion of the valley in Indian possession. The Mormons gradually moved south and established the villages of Garden City, Pickleville, and Laketown, each along the lake's shore.

In later years Bear Lake became a resort and recreation area, and this tradition has grown through the years with many developers selling lakeshore and mountain view lots. The beaches of Lakota and Ideal were given to private development in the 1970s, including the Blue Water and Sweetwater developments. The State of Utah bought the far southeast beach for use as a State Park, and also operates a marina on the lake's west side.

Environmental concerns have arisen with the ongoing development of the area. The lake is diked on the Idaho side and downstream Bear River water users use it as a reservoir.

General information

Formed in a graben valley straddling the Idaho-Utah border, the lake has an approximate area of 109 square miles (282 km²) and sits at an elevation of 5,924 ft (1,805 m) along the northeast side of the Wasatch Range and the east side of the Bear River Mountains. [http://www.waterquality.utah.gov/watersheds/lakes/BEARLAKE.pdf Bear Lake] . "Utah Division of Water Quality."]

The lake and surrounding areas are a popular summer tourist destination. The lake has many marinas, beaches, and two tourist towns in Utah known as Garden City and Laketown. It also has two state parks, each named Bear Lake State Park: one in Idaho, one in Utah.

Bear Lake has a high rate of endemism (species living naturally only in one place). Several species evolved in the lake's waters, but after the diversion of the Bear River into the lake, many of these have gone extinct. Remaining known endemic species of fish include the Bonneville cisco, Bonneville whitefish, Bear Lake whitefish, and Bear Lake sculpin. Although other species have been introduced into the lake, few can reproduce successfully in the lakes waters, so it has not been affected as greatly as other lakes by invasive speciesFact|date=July 2008.

Water from the lake is used for irrigation in the nearby Bear Valley in southeast Idaho, and for recreational fishing. The lake drains via the Bear River Outlet, completed in 1915 into the Bear River which eventually flows into the northeast portion of Great Salt Lake.

The climate in the valley is warm and dry during the summer, with first snowfall coming during the fall. Fog and snow are common during the winter. The lake is icebound during most winters and most of spring during freeze years.

Many locals from northern Utah, southern Idaho, and western Wyoming come to Bear Lake for summer vacations due to its proximity and abundance of recreational activities.

Raspberry Days festival

Bear Lake has become famous for the surrounding valley's crops of raspberries and for the annual Raspberry Days festival held in Garden City to celebrate the harvest of raspberries, generally during the first week of August. This event is said to bring people from all over the world and features rodeos, parades, fireworks, dances, a craft fair, "Miss Berry Princess contest", raspberry recipe cookoff, a talent show, fun run and concerts. [ [http://library.loganutah.org/local/cache/organiz/OrgEvent.cfm?Organization=Bear%20Lake%20Raspberry%20Days Bear Lake Raspberry Days] . "The Logan Library".]

Notes

References

* [http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2003/of03-150/html/CDRCONT.HTM Geophysical Surveys of Bear Lake, Utah-Idaho, September, 2002]
* [http://www.waterquality.utah.gov/watersheds/lakes/BEARLAKE.pdf Report on Bear Lake] by the Utah Division of Water Quality
* [http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/b/BEARLAKE.html Bear Lake] . "Utah History Encyclopedia".
* [http://www.utah.com/stateparks/bear_lake.htm Bear Lake State Park - Utah]
* [http://esp.cr.usgs.gov/info/lacs/background.htm Geologically Interesting Aspects of the Bear Lake Region]
* [http://www.anglerguide.com/articles/710.html Bear Lake, An Endemical Wonder]
* [http://www.idahoparks.org/parks/bearlake.aspx Bear Lake State Park - Idaho]

External links

* [http://www.bearlake.org/ Bear Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau]
* [http://www.webcampedia.com/webcam/864/ Bear Lake Weather Data and Webcam]