Eklutna Lake facts for kids
Eklutna Lake is a big lake in Alaska. It gets its water from melting glaciers high in the mountains. This lake is super important for the city of Anchorage, Alaska. It provides most of their drinking water. It also helps make electricity for homes and businesses.
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Explore Eklutna Lake Park
Eklutna Lake is part of a huge park system. It sits inside Chugach state park. This is one of the biggest state parks in the entire United States.
Many people love to visit the park. You can walk or bike on long trails. Some visitors even camp out among the tall mountains. When winter comes, skiing and ice skating become popular activities.
Driving to Eklutna Lake
The road to Eklutna Lake is about ten miles long. It starts from the Glenn Highway near Anchorage. As you get closer to the lake, the road climbs high into the hills. Many people think this drive is one of the most beautiful in all of Alaska.
How Eklutna Lake Makes Power
Eklutna Lake helps make electricity for Anchorage. This happens thanks to special dams.
Old and New Dams
The first dam was built in 1929. It made electricity for over 30 years. This old dam was taken down in 2017. A newer dam was built in 1951. It is still working today.
How the New Dam Works
The new dam sends water through a long tunnel. This tunnel leads to a special building called a generator. The moving water spins parts inside the generator. This spinning creates electricity for the city.
Eklutna Lake's Water Supply
The water in Eklutna Lake comes from melted snow. This snow melts high up in the mountains. The lake and the river flowing from it are all fed by this mountain water.
Drinking Water for Anchorage
The city of Anchorage takes water from the lake. They get it near the dam. The water is then treated to remove any germs or sand. Eklutna Lake provides almost 90% of the city's drinking water. Some companies even bottle water directly from the lake. They sell it in stores across the country.
Images for kids
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Generators powered by water flow diverted from the lake
