Curwensville Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Curwensville Lake |
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View of Curwensville Lake looking west from PA State Route 453.
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 Curwensville Lake
Location in Pennsylvania
Curwensville Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Coordinates | 40°57′15″N 78°31′36″W / 40.95417°N 78.52667°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface elevation | 1,240 ft (380 m) |
Curwensville Lake is a large, man-made lake located just south of the town of Curwensville, Pennsylvania. It is a special type of lake called a reservoir. A reservoir is like a giant storage tank for water. It is created by building a big wall, called a dam, across a river.
The lake was formed when the Curwensville Dam was built. This dam is located just north of the lake.
Contents
Why Curwensville Lake Was Built
Before Curwensville Lake was created, the area had a big problem. The West Branch Susquehanna River would often flood. These floods caused a lot of damage to nearby towns like Curwensville and Clearfield.
Stopping the Floods
To stop these damaging floods, people decided to build a dam. A special law was passed on September 3, 1954, to help make this happen. This law was about controlling floods along the West Branch river.
The main goal of the dam was to protect the towns. It would hold back extra water when the river got too high. This helps prevent the river from overflowing its banks.
The Cost of the Dam
Building the Curwensville Dam was a very big project. It cost about $20,400,000 to build. This was a huge amount of money, showing how important it was to stop the floods.
What is a Reservoir?
A reservoir is different from a natural lake. Natural lakes form from things like glaciers or volcanoes. Reservoirs are made by people. They are built for many reasons.
Uses of Reservoirs
Reservoirs like Curwensville Lake can be used for several things. They can store water for drinking. They can also help control floods, as Curwensville Lake does. Sometimes, they are used to make electricity. They also provide places for people to have fun.
Images for kids
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View of Curwensville Lake looking west from PA State Route 453.
