Black Mesa State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black Mesa State Park |
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Storm at Black Mesa State Park, April 2012
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 Black Mesa State Park
Location in Oklahoma
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| Location | Cimarron County, Oklahoma, United States |
| Nearest city | Boise City, OK |
| Area | 349 acres (141 ha) |
| Governing body | Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department |
Black Mesa State Park is an Oklahoma state park in Cimarron County, near the western border of the Oklahoma panhandle and New Mexico. The park is located about 15 miles (24 km) away from its namesake, Black Mesa, the highest point in Oklahoma (4,973 feet (1,516 m) above sea level). The mesa was named for the layer of black lava rock that coats it.
The associated nature preserve is open to hiking and contains 1,600 acres (6.5 km2) and is home to 23 rare plants and 8 rare animal species.
The nearest community is Kenton, Oklahoma. The nearest town is Boise City, Oklahoma.
Carl Etling Lake
Carl Etling Lake, formed in 1959 by a dam built on Carrizo Creek, is contained within Black Mesa State Park. It has a shoreline of 5 miles (8.0 km), an average depth of 11 feet (3.4 m), with a maximum depth of 38 feet (12 m). The lake reportedly has a surface area of 200 acres (810,000 m2).
