Born Lakes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Born Lakes |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 Born Lakes
Location in Idaho
|
|
| Location | Custer County, Idaho |
| Coordinates | 44°03′33″N 114°37′01″W / 44.0591032°N 114.6169483°W |
| Lake type | Glacial |
| Primary outflows | Warm Springs Creek to Salmon River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface elevation | 9,465 ft (2,885 m) |
The Born Lakes are a group of eleven beautiful mountain lakes found in Custer County, Idaho, United States. They are located high up in the White Cloud Mountains, which are part of the amazing Sawtooth National Recreation Area. These lakes are special because they are glacial lakes, meaning they were formed by ancient glaciers. They are also a type of lake chain called Paternoster lakes, which means they are connected by a single stream, like beads on a rosary.
Contents
Exploring the Born Lakes
The Born Lakes are located at the top of the Warm Springs Creek watershed. This creek eventually flows into the famous Salmon River. The lakes are surrounded by tall mountains. These include Patterson Peak, Blackmon Peak, and Lonesome Lake Peak.
Visiting the Lakes
If you want to visit the lakes, you can follow Sawtooth National Forest trail 671. It leads right to them. Even though there are eleven lakes, they don't have individual official names. Many of these lakes have also started to fill in with sand and dirt over time.
Facts About Each Born Lake
Here is a table showing some interesting facts about each of the Born Lakes. You can see their elevation, how long and wide they are, and their exact location.
| Lake | Elevation | Max. length | Max. width | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born Lake 1 | 2,815 m (9,236 ft) | 028 m (92 ft) | 023 m (75 ft) | 44°03′29″N 114°37′52″W / 44.057964°N 114.630997°W |
| Born Lake 2 | 2,854 m (9,364 ft) | 133 m (436 ft) | 095 m (312 ft) | 44°03′45″N 114°37′08″W / 44.062392°N 114.619017°W |
| Born Lake 3 | 2,866 m (9,403 ft) | 040 m (130 ft) | 025 m (82 ft) | 44°03′30″N 114°37′21″W / 44.058314°N 114.622474°W |
| Born Lake 4 | 2,866 m (9,403 ft) | 058 m (190 ft) | 034 m (112 ft) | 44°03′28″N 114°37′23″W / 44.057888°N 114.622971°W |
| Born Lake 5 | 2,873 m (9,426 ft) | 150 m (490 ft) | 073 m (240 ft) | 44°03′28″N 114°37′12″W / 44.057748°N 114.620014°W |
| Born Lake 6 | 2,877 m (9,439 ft) | 168 m (551 ft) | 120 m (390 ft) | 44°03′27″N 114°37′05″W / 44.057371°N 114.618033°W |
| Born Lake 7 | 2,880 m (9,450 ft) | 046 m (151 ft) | 030 m (98 ft) | 44°03′33″N 114°37′06″W / 44.059298°N 114.618471°W |
| Born Lake 8 | 2,889 m (9,478 ft) | 055 m (180 ft) | 038 m (125 ft) | 44°03′33″N 114°37′00″W / 44.059298°N 114.616706°W |
| Born Lake 9 | 2,912 m (9,554 ft) | 174 m (571 ft) | 100 m (330 ft) | 44°03′34″N 114°36′46″W / 44.059479°N 114.612707°W |
| Born Lake 10 | 2,953 m (9,688 ft) | 026 m (85 ft) | 022 m (72 ft) | 44°03′40″N 114°36′32″W / 44.060983°N 114.608799°W |
| Born Lake 11 | 2,963 m (9,721 ft) | 103 m (338 ft) | 041 m (135 ft) | 44°03′44″N 114°36′40″W / 44.062114°N 114.610983°W |
The Official Name of the Lakes
The Born Lakes have been called by a few different names over the years. These include "Boone Lakes," "Born lakes," and "Boorn Lakes." In 1964, a group called the United States Board on Geographic Names suggested that "Born Lakes" should be the official name.
Why the Name Changed
However, in 2009, a man named James Ridenour wanted to correct the spelling. He proposed that the name should be "Boorn Lakes" instead. This was to match older maps and to honor the person the lakes were originally named after. That person was Samuel S. Boorn, who lived around 1840-1900. He was important because he made the very first mining claim in Custer County.
Current Usage
Because of this, the name "Boorn Lakes" officially became the correct name in August 2009. But even with this official change, you will still see "Born Lakes" on most maps of the area today.
