Big Stone Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Big Stone Lake |
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Big Stone Lake from Ortonville's Lakeside Park, September 2013
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 Big Stone Lake
Location in Minnesota
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| Location | Big Stone County, Minnesota / Roberts County and Grant County, South Dakota |
| Coordinates | 45°24′28″N 96°37′04″W / 45.40778°N 96.61778°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Little Minnesota River |
| Primary outflows | Minnesota River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 26 mi (42 km) |
| Surface area | 12,610 acres (5,100 ha) |
| Max. depth | 16 ft (4.9 m) |
| Settlements | Ortonville MN, Big Stone City SD, Browns Valley MN |
Big Stone Lake (Dakota: Íŋyaŋ Tháŋka Bdé) is a long, narrow freshwater lake. It is also a reservoir, which means it's a natural lake that has been changed to store water. This lake forms the border between western Minnesota and northeastern South Dakota in the United States.
Contents
About Big Stone Lake
Big Stone Lake covers a huge area of about 12,610 acres (5,100 ha). It stretches for 26 miles (42 km) from one end to the other. On average, it is about 1 mile (1.6 km) wide. The lake sits at an elevation of 965 feet (294 m) above sea level. This makes it the lowest point in all of South Dakota!
Big Stone Lake is very important because it is where the Minnesota River begins. The Minnesota River flows for 332 miles (534 km) until it reaches the mighty Mississippi River.
Controlling the Water
A special structure called the Big Stone Lake Dam helps control the water. This dam is located at the southern end of the lake. It was built in 1937. The dam helps manage how much water flows from Big Stone Lake into the Minnesota River. It can hold back a large amount of water, about 205,000 acre-feet. The state of Minnesota owns and operates this dam.
How the Lake Was Formed
The Little Minnesota River feeds Big Stone Lake at its northern end. This river flows through an area called the Traverse Gap. Big Stone Lake was formed a very long time ago, at the end of the last ice age. During that time, a huge ancient lake called Lake Agassiz drained away. Its water flowed through the Traverse Gap into another large ancient river, the Glacial River Warren. The valley where that ancient river once flowed is now where Big Stone Lake sits.
You can even find Big Stone Lake on an old map from 1757! It's shown as "L. Tinton" on the Mitchell Map. This name referred to the Lakota people, who were also known as Tetonwan, meaning "dwellers of the prairie." The lake got its current name, Big Stone Lake, because of the large rock formations nearby.
Fun Things to Do
Big Stone Lake is a popular spot for outdoor activities. There are two state parks located along the lake's shores. One is Big Stone Lake State Park in Minnesota. The other is Hartford Beach State Park in South Dakota.
These parks offer many fun things for visitors. You can have picnics, launch your boat, explore trails, and even go camping. The Minnesota state park also has an educational center. Here, you can learn more about the lake and its surroundings. Many vacation resorts are also found along the shores of Big Stone Lake.
People especially love coming to the lake for fishing! It's a great place to catch fish like walleye, northern pike, and bluegills. These are popular game fish for anglers. The lake is home to more than 30 other types of fish too. There are 12 public spots where you can access the lake for fishing. To keep the fish population healthy, the lake is stocked with 7,000,000 walleye fry every two years.
Nearby Towns
Several towns are located near Big Stone Lake. The towns of Ortonville, Minnesota, and Big Stone City, South Dakota, are found at the southern end of the lake. The town of Browns Valley, Minnesota, is located at the northern end.
See also
In Spanish: Lago Big Stone para niños
