Canyon Lake (California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Canyon Lake |
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| Railroad Canyon Reservoir | |
Canyon Lake Lodge, light house and marina
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 Canyon Lake
Location in California
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| Location | Temescal Mountains, Riverside County, California |
| Coordinates | 33°41′15″N 117°16′09″W / 33.6876°N 117.2692°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | San Jacinto River |
| Primary outflows | |
| Catchment area | 664 sq mi (1,720 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 525 acres (212 ha) |
| Water volume | 11,586 acre⋅ft (14,291,000 m3) |
| Shore length1 | 14.9 miles (24.0 km) |
| Surface elevation | 1,365 feet (416 m) |
| Settlements | Canyon Lake, California |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Canyon Lake, also known as Railroad Canyon Reservoir, is a special lake in Riverside County, California. It was created in 1928 by building the Railroad Canyon Dam. This dam was built in Railroad Canyon within the Temescal Mountains.
The lake covers about 525 acres, which is like 400 football fields! It has almost 15 miles of shoreline, which is a lot of space to explore. Canyon Lake can hold a huge amount of water, about 11,586 acre-feet. The Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District owns and manages the lake.
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How Canyon Lake Was Formed
Canyon Lake is a type of lake called a reservoir. Reservoirs are man-made lakes built to store water. This one was created in 1928 when the Railroad Canyon Dam was finished. The dam holds back water from the San Jacinto River and Salt Creek. These rivers bring in water from rain and storms, which is called storm water runoff.
Water for the Community
The water from Canyon Lake is very important for the local area. It flows into the Canyon Lake Water Treatment Plant. This plant cleans the water, making it safe to drink. About 10% of the drinking water for the nearby cities of Lake Elsinore and Canyon Lake comes from this reservoir.
Fun Things to Do at Canyon Lake
Canyon Lake is a popular spot for many activities. The lake is about 20 feet deep on average. If you like fishing, you can enjoy it here. However, there's a special rule: it's "catch and release" fishing. This means you catch the fish, but then you gently let them go back into the water.
The Canyon Lake Community
Right next to the reservoir is the city of Canyon Lake. This city is a private, gated community. People who live there can use golf carts and boats to get around, which is pretty cool! The community also hosts many fun events throughout the year for its residents. For example, they have "Taco Tuesday" during the summer and special parties for different holidays.
