Ivanpah Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ivanpah Lake |
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The lake filled with water after the heavy rains of 2004–2005
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 Ivanpah Lake
Location in California
Ivanpah Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Mojave Desert San Bernardino County, California |
| Coordinates | 35°33′02″N 115°23′45″W / 35.5506°N 115.3959°W |
| Lake type | Endorheic basin |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 20 km (12 mi) |
| Max. width | 5 km (3.1 mi) |
| Surface area | 34 km2 (13 sq mi) |
| Shore length1 | 45 km (28 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 795 m (2,608 ft) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Ivanpah Lake is a large, flat, dry lake in the Mojave Desert. It is located in San Bernardino County, California, right on the border between California and Nevada. This dry lake is found in the Ivanpah Valley, close to the town of Primm and Interstate 15.
Most of the lake, which is about 34 square kilometers (13 square miles) in size, is within California. At its northern edge, you can find the Nevada Welcome Center (which is now closed) and a California Lottery store. Ivanpah Lake is a very popular spot for exciting outdoor activities like land sailing and kite buggying.
A cool fact about Ivanpah Lake is that a world record was set here! On March 26, 2009, a special vehicle called the Greenbird broke the world land speed record for a vehicle powered only by wind. It reached an amazing speed of 126.1 mph (202.9 km/h)!
Environmental Care at Ivanpah Lake
Ivanpah Lake has faced some environmental challenges in the past. In the 1980s, a nearby mine called the Mountain Pass Mine used to send its wastewater through a pipeline. This pipeline stretched for many kilometers, reaching evaporation ponds near Ivanpah Dry Lake.
Sometimes, this pipeline would break, especially when it was being cleaned. When it broke, water containing certain natural materials from the mine would spill onto the desert ground. Federal authorities later found that many spills happened between 1984 and 1998.
After these spills, efforts were made to clean up the affected areas. The company responsible worked to prepare a cleanup plan and studied the environment carefully. By 2004, they received approval to continue operating the mine, but with strict environmental rules. Later, in 2008, a new company took over the mine, aiming to continue its operations responsibly. This shows how important it is to protect our natural environments.
Images for kids
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View of Ivanpah Dry Lake from northbound I-15 after an early August rain (with Primm in the distance)
