Singletary Lake

Infobox lake
lake_name = Singletary Lake
image_lake = Lone Cypress in Singletary Lake.jpg
caption_lake = December 2007
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = North Carolina
coords = coord|34|35|20|N|078|26|55|W|region:US-NC_type:waterbody_source:gnis|display=inline,title
type = Carolina Bay
inflow = rainwater
outflow =
catchment =
basin_countries = United States
length =
width =
area = > convert|659|acre|km2|1|abbr=on
depth = convert|11.8|ft|m|1|abbr=on
max-depth =
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation = convert|62|ft|m|abbr=on
islands =
cities =
frozen =

Singletary Lake, surrounded by Singletary Lake State Park in Bladen County, North Carolina in the United States, is one of a series of Carolina bay lakes that stretch from New Jersey to Florida along the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Exactly how the lakes were formed remains a mystery. What is known is that Lake Singletary is not fed by any stream, but relies entirely upon rain. The land beneath and surrounding the lake is mica-rich sandy clay and sand that is from the Upper Cretaceous era with a thin layer of Pleistocene deposits covering it. This land is lower than the surrounding land and drains very poorly, creating Singletary Lake. cite web | url = http://org.elon.edu/geo/singletary_lake.htm | title = Singletary Lake | accessdate = 2007-12-04 | publisher = Elon University]

The southwest corner of the lake is bordered by a bog that is densely covered by bay trees. A sandy rim on the southeast side of the lake supports very little vegetation. Venus Fly Traps can be found in the margin between the bog and the sand rim.

Singletary Lake is the deepest of the Carolina Bays at 11.8 feet (3.6 m) but not the largest. It covers 659 acres (2.7 km²) with four miles (6.43 km) of shoreline. Since Singletary Lake is not fed by streams and relies upon rainwater the level of the lake varies with the amount of precipitation in the area. cite web | url = http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/sila/ecology.php | title = Singletary Lake State Park: Ecology | accessdate = 2007-12-04 | publisher = North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources]

Most bay lakes, such as Lake Singletary, are completely surrounded by vegetation. Trees and shrubs that grow along the shoreline reduce current and wave action. This permits sediments to settle and stimulates plant growth. As the plants die off peat is produced. The peat accumulates on the shore line and more plants grow atop the peat. Very slowly the forest surrounding the lake with creep into the lake, reducing the size of the lake before eventually a swampy forest stands where a lake once was. This process has reduced the size of Singletary Lake by at least 44%.

References

*gnis|994864