Big Lake (Texas) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Big Lake |
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 Big Lake
Location in Texas
Big Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Reagan County, Texas |
| Coordinates | 31°10′N 101°29′W / 31.167°N 101.483°W |
| Type | intermittent lake |
| Primary inflows | Big Lake Draw |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 1,000 acres (400 ha) |
Big Lake is a special kind of lake in Reagan County, Texas, in the United States. It's not always full of water. Instead, it's an "intermittent" lake, which means it can dry up completely at times. You can find it about one mile (1.6 kilometers) south and southwest of the city also named Big Lake.
What is Big Lake?
Big Lake is a large, flat area that covers about 1,300 acres. This type of dry lakebed is often called a "playa." It sits in a floodplain, which is a flat area of land next to a river or stream that often gets flooded when there's a lot of rain.
How Does Big Lake Get Water?
The lake primarily gets its water from something called Big Lake Draw. A "draw" is like a small, natural channel or valley that collects rainwater. Big Lake also gets water from other smaller draws that don't have names. When there's heavy rainfall, these draws fill up and carry water into the lakebed, causing it to fill up.
Plants Around the Lake
Even when Big Lake is dry, different kinds of plants grow around its edges. You can find tough shrubs, mesquite trees, and juniper trees. There are also various grasses and "water-tolerant hardwoods." These are trees that can handle having their roots in wet soil for a while, which is important for a lake that sometimes fills with water.
