Keechelus Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Keechelus Lake |
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 Keechelus Lake
Location in Washington (state)
Keechelus Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Kittitas County, Washington, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 47°21′N 121°22′W / 47.35°N 121.37°W |
| Type | natural lake, reservoir |
| Primary outflows | Yakima River |
| Catchment area | 54.3 sq mi (141 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 4.2 miles (6.8 km) |
| Max. width | 1 mile (1.6 km) |
| Water volume | 157,800 acre-feet (194,600,000 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 2,517 feet (767 m) |
Keechelus Lake is a beautiful lake and reservoir located in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. You can find it near a small place called Hyak in Kittitas County, Washington. This lake is about 50 miles (80 km) southeast of Seattle. It's also just a few miles southeast of Snoqualmie Pass, a famous mountain pass. Keechelus Lake is super important because it's where the Yakima River begins its journey!
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Where is Keechelus Lake?
Keechelus Lake is the westernmost of three big lakes in the Cascade Range. These lakes are close to Interstate 90. The other two lakes are Kachess Lake (in the middle) and Cle Elum Lake (to the east).
After crossing Snoqualmie Pass, which is 3,020 feet (920 meters) high, Interstate 90 runs right along the eastern side of Keechelus Lake. The road is built very close to the mountains here.
What is the Lake's Purpose?
Keechelus Lake is part of the huge Columbia River basin. The water from Keechelus Lake flows into the Yakima River, which then flows into the Columbia River.
The lake is used as a special storage area for the Yakima Project. This project helps with irrigation, which means supplying water to farms. The United States Bureau of Reclamation manages this project.
How is the Lake Controlled?
Even though Keechelus Lake is a natural lake, its water level and how much water flows out are controlled. This is done by the Keechelus Dam. The dam is 128 feet (39 meters) tall and was built in 1917. It's made of earthfill, which means it's built from compacted soil and rock. Because of the dam, the lake can hold a lot of water – about 157,900 acre-feet (194.8 million cubic meters).
What Does the Name Mean?
The name "Keechelus" comes from a Native American language. It means "few fish." This is interesting because another nearby lake, Kachess Lake, has a name that means "more fish."
Railroad History Near the Lake
Long ago, a railroad called the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (also known as the "Milwaukee Road") used to run along the west side of Keechelus Lake. This railroad crossed the Cascade Mountains through a long tunnel called the Snoqualmie Tunnel. The tunnel is about 2¼ miles (3.6 km) long!
The Milwaukee Road started carrying trains to Tacoma in 1909. The tunnel opened in 1914. Near the tunnel's east entrance, close to the lake's northwest shore, there was once a ski area called the Milwaukee Ski Bowl. It was built in 1937 and operated by the railroad until 1950.
What Happened to the Railroad?
The Milwaukee Road eventually stopped using its tracks in 1980. Now, that old railroad path is a rail trail called Iron Horse State Park. You can even walk or bike through the old Snoqualmie Tunnel!
Another railroad, the Northern Pacific Railway, also crossed the Cascades about two miles (3 km) south of Keechelus Lake. They used a route through Stampede Pass and a tunnel that opened in 1888. This route is still used today by a company called BNSF Railway.
