Goose Lake (Oregon–California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Goose Lake |
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An alkaline dust storm blowing into Lakeview, Oregon, over the deeper north end of the lake (seen from U.S. Route 395 near Sugar Hill, 2009)
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 Goose Lake
Location in Oregon
Goose Lake
Location in California
Goose Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Fremont National Forest and Modoc National Forest Lake County, Oregon and Modoc County, California |
| Coordinates | 41°55′0″N 120°26′4″W / 41.91667°N 120.43444°W |
| Lake type | Pluvial and alkaline |
| Primary inflows | Willow Creek Thomas Creek |
| Primary outflows | Closed basin with rare flows to the Pit River via the Russell Slough |
| Catchment area | 1,080 sq mi (2,800 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 42 km (26 mi) |
| Max. width | 15 km (9.3 mi) |
| Surface area | 147 sq mi (380 km2) |
| Max. depth | 8 m (26 ft) |
| Shore length1 | 110 km (68 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 1,434 m (4,705 ft) |
| Settlements | Fairport, California Willow Ranch, California |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Goose Lake is a large lake located right on the border between Oregon and California in the United States. It is known as an alkaline lake, which means its water has a high salt content, making it feel a bit slippery. Like many lakes in the Great Basin area, Goose Lake is a pluvial lake. This means it formed a very long time ago from lots of rain and melting glaciers during the Ice Age.
The northern part of the lake is in Lake County, Oregon, and the southern part is in Modoc County, California. Nearby mountains are part of the Fremont National Forest and Modoc National Forest. Most of the land around the lake is privately owned farms. However, the Goose Lake State Recreation Area on the Oregon side offers a place for people to visit and enjoy the lake.
Goose Lake is usually a closed basin. This means water flows into it, but it doesn't normally flow out to other rivers or oceans. Instead, water mostly leaves the lake by evaporating. But sometimes, after a lot of rain or snowmelt, the lake can get so full that it overflows into the Pit River. The Pit River then flows into the Sacramento River system.
About Goose Lake
Goose Lake is part of a long, deep crack in the Earth's surface called a geological trough. This trough stretches from Oregon all the way south past Death Valley.
The Goose Lake State Recreation Area is a popular spot for visitors. It has a campground with many facilities. People come here to watch wildlife, camp, and go boating. The campground is open from mid-April to mid-October. The area is home to many animals and plants. You might see birds like the western grebe and long-billed curlew. A large group of mule deer also spends a lot of time in the campground.
Fun activities at Goose Lake include kayaking and canoeing. People also go hunting in the surrounding areas. However, fishing is not allowed. When the lake is full, it can be up to 24 feet (7.3 m) deep.
History of the Lake
Goose Lake is located near a historic route called Fandango Pass. In the 1800s, early settlers used this path to travel into California. During the California Gold Rush, a special path called the Applegate-Lassen Cut-Off of the California Trail passed by Goose Lake. This route helped people reach the gold fields in California.
The lake has completely dried up several times throughout history. This happened in 1851, 1852, 1926, 1929–1934, 1992, 2009, and from 2013 to 2015. In 1868, Goose Lake overflowed into the Pit River watershed. In the past, Goose Lake was the main source of the Pit River. However, people have diverted water from the lake for farming and other uses. This has caused the lake's water level to drop. Now, the Pit River starts south of Goose Lake. Because the lake doesn't overflow as often, its water is becoming saltier. This can make it harder for fish to live there. Still, when there are very high water levels, Goose Lake can still spill into the Pit River.
Images for kids
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Southern end of the lake
See also
In Spanish: Lago Goose para niños
