Grand Lake St. Marys

Infobox_lake
lake_name = Grand Lake Saint Marys
image_lake = Celina-ohio-grand-lake.jpg
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = Auglaize County and Mercer County, Ohio
coords = coord|40|31|17|N|84|25|17|W|region:US-OH_type:waterbody_source:GNIS|display=inline,title
type = artificial lake
inflow = Coldwater Creek
outflow = Beaver
catchment =
basin_countries = United States
length = convert|8.2|mi|km|abbr=on
width = convert|2.8|mi|km|abbr=on
area = convert|13500|acre|abbr=on [Fact|date=June 2008]
depth = 5-7 ft (1.5-2 m) [Fact|date=June 2008]
max-depth =
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation = convert|869|ft|m|abbr=on
islands = Safety Island
cities =
reference = Gnis|1083992|Grand Lake]

Grand Lake "Saint Marys" is an artificial lake in Grand Lake-Saint Marys State Park, West of St. Marys, and South-East of Celina, convert|23|mi|km South-West of Lima in the North-Western part of the U.S. state of Ohio.

The lake covers 13,500 acres (55 km²) in Auglaize and Mercer counties. Grand Lake Saint Marys is the largest inland lake in Ohio in terms of land area, but is extremely shallow, with an average depth of only 5 to 7 feet (1.5 to 2 m). [Fact|date=June 2008]

History

It was constructed in the early 1800s as a reservoir for the Miami and Erie Canal. In the 1890s oil was discovered in the area, and oil derricks were set up in the lake. [Fact|date=June 2008]

Name

The official geographic name, Grand Lake, became a Board of Geographic Names decision by default when the United States Geological Survey Board of Geographic Names disapproved the proposal to change the name "Grand Lake" to "Grand Lake-Saint Marys"..

The State of Ohio recognizes the name as "Grand Lake St. Marys" and the lake is often printed on local maps as "Grand Lake St. Marys".

Also known as:
*Celina Grand Reservoir
*Grand Lake - Saint Marys
*Grand Lake Saint Marys
*Grand Reservoir
*Lake Saint Marys
*Mercer County Reservoir
*Saint Marys Reservoir
*Lake Mercer

tate Park

Grand Lake State Park is located near coord|40|31|52|N|084|29|59|W|region:US-OH_source:GNIS Elevation: convert|863|ft|m in Mercer County, Ohio. [Gnis|1085177|Grand Lake State Park]

In 1949, it was made one of Ohio's first state parks. The lake and the surrounding state park are a popular site for recreational fishing and camping, and there are four swimming beaches.At one point it was the largest human-made body of water in the world. [Fact|date=June 2008]

References

External links

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