Glacial Lake McKenzie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake McKenzie |
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 Lake McKenzie
Location in North Dakota
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| Location | McLean, Mercer, and Dunn, Counties, North Dakota |
| Coordinates | 47°31′43″N 101°24′22″W / 47.528614°N 101.406182°W |
| Lake type | Glacial lake (former) |
| Primary inflows | Laurentide Ice Sheet |
| Primary outflows | Over the divide to the Yellowstone River or along the face of the Ice sheet. |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | about 140 miles (230 km) |
| Max. width | 40 miles (64 km) |
| Surface area | varied |
| Surface elevation | 1,940 m (6,360 ft) |
Before the Pleistocene Ice Age, circa two million years before present (YBP), the rivers in North, South Dakota and eastern Montana drained northeast into Canada and then into Hudson Bay. The Keewatin Lobe of the continental ice sheet, block the flow of water northward and impounded it along the ice front. Lakes formed, until the waters could find a new way to drain. Initially, the north flowing rivers followed the front of the glacier eastward and into a valley that passed between Garrison and Riverdale, to the Turtle Lake area, and on into Sheridan County. This is known as the preglacial McClean River. This valley became blocked by the glacier and the glacial lake identified as Lake McKenzie formed. Eventually, water level rose to crest the south ridge a point near Riverdale — at the site of the modern Garrison Dam and a diversion trench was cut. The modern Missouri River follows this pathway.
