Mark Twain Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mark Twain Lake |
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Lake and Dam
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 Mark Twain Lake
Location in Missouri
Mark Twain Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Monroe / Ralls counties, Missouri, United States |
| Coordinates | 39°30′21″N 91°43′21″W / 39.505912°N 91.722407°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Salt River |
| Primary outflows | Salt River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 30 mi (48 km) |
| Max. width | 1-mile (1.6 km) |
| Surface area | 18,600 acres (7,500 ha) |
| Average depth | 29 ft (8.8 m) |
| Shore length1 | 285 mi (459 km) |
| Surface elevation | 606 ft (185 m) |
| Settlements | Florida |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Mark Twain Lake is a big lake in Missouri, USA. It's found in Ralls and Monroe Counties. This lake was made by building the Clarence Cannon Dam across the Salt River. It's about 20 miles southwest of a city called Hannibal. The lake is named after the famous Missouri writer, Mark Twain. There's even a Mark Twain State Park nearby! The small town of Florida, where Mark Twain was born, is almost completely surrounded by the lake's waters.
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Why Was Mark Twain Lake Built?
The idea for the Clarence Cannon Dam, first called the Joanna Dam, came up in 1937. People wanted to stop the Salt River from flooding every year. With help from many people, including Representative Clarence Cannon, the US Congress approved the project in 1962.
This big project was planned to do many things for Northeast Missouri. It helps with:
- Making electricity from water power
- Controlling floods
- Providing fun recreation activities
- Protecting fish and wildlife
- Supplying water to people
- Helping with river travel
The dam was officially opened in 1984. The famous singer Johnny Cash even performed at the opening party!
The Clarence Cannon Dam and Power Plant
The Clarence Cannon Dam is a huge structure. It stands 138 feet tall and stretches 1,940 feet long. It's made from a mix of concrete and earth.
Inside the dam is a power plant that makes electricity. It has two large generators. These generators can make enough power for a town of 20,000 people! When both generators are working at full speed, about 5.4 million gallons of water rush through them every minute.
There's also a special dam about 9.5 miles downstream. This smaller dam creates a pool of water that helps with making electricity. When people don't need much electricity, power from other places can be used to pump water back up into the main lake. Then, when a lot of electricity is needed, this water can be sent through the turbines again. It's like a giant battery!
Who Are the Namesakes?
Clarence Cannon: A Supporter of the Dam
Clarence Cannon was a very important person in getting the dam built. He worked in the U.S. House of Representatives for 42 years. He was a farmer and wrote books about how government meetings work. After he passed away in 1964, the Joanna Dam was renamed in his honor.
Mark Twain: The Famous Author
The lake is named after the famous writer Mark Twain. His real name was Samuel Clemens. He was born in Florida, Missouri. When he was born, Florida was right on the Salt River. This river was later dammed to create the lake. Mark Twain wrote many stories about his home state of Missouri, making people laugh and learn.
Fun Things to Do at Mark Twain Lake
Clarence Cannon Dam and Mark Twain Lake offer many chances for outdoor fun! You can go boating, swimming, fishing, picnicking, hiking, and hunting. There are special areas with campgrounds, beaches, and picnic spots. Other areas are kept natural for wildlife. Everyone can enjoy the 54,000 acres of land and water here.
Camping Adventures
You can camp at three U.S. Army Corps of Engineers areas, at Mark Twain State Park, and at several private campgrounds. Camping fees and what's available might be different at each spot. But most places have electric hookups, showers, restrooms, and picnic tables. Some campsites can even be reserved ahead of time.
During the summer, campfire programs are held at outdoor theaters in the campgrounds. These programs teach visitors about the area's nature and history. Schools, scout groups, and others can also ask for special programs. The Corps of Engineers also helps groups plan events like bass fishing tournaments at the lake.
Water Sports and Fishing
With over 18,000 acres of water, Mark Twain Lake is perfect for any kind of water fun. Boaters can use many boat ramps around the lake. There are also two marinas where you can get supplies for your boat. Developed beaches offer great places to swim.
If you like to fish, you'll find catfish, bass, crappie, walleye, bluegill, and sunfish. Some trees were left in the lake when it was created. These trees help create good homes for the fish.
Hiking and Hunting
Mark Twain Lake also has fun things for people who like to picnic, hike, and hunt. Hikers can explore many miles of trails around the lake. You might even spot a deer or a bluebird! For hunters, there are thousands of acres of hunting grounds. These areas are easy to get to from special parking lots.
Near the lake, north of Florida, Missouri, you can find ancient burial mounds. This site is called the Crigler Mound Group and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
