Kiser Lake (Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kiser Lake |
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Kiser Lake viewed from the south
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 Kiser Lake
Location in Ohio
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| Location | Champaign County, Ohio, USA |
| Coordinates | 40°11′17″N 83°57′56″W / 40.18806°N 83.96556°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 2.5 miles (4.0 km) |
| Max. width | 0.3 miles (0.48 km) |
| Surface area | 394 acres (159 ha) |
| Average depth | 18 feet (5.5 m) |
| Shore length1 | 5.3 miles (8.5 km) |
| Surface elevation | 1,063 feet (324 m) |
| Settlements | Grandview Heights |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Kiser Lake is a beautiful lake located in Champaign County, Ohio. It's a special type of lake called a reservoir, which means it was created by people, not nature. You can find it about 4.2 miles (6.8 km) northwest of St. Paris and 34 miles (55 km) north of Dayton.
The small community of Grandview Heights is right on the southern shore of the lake. Near the lake's beginning, on its southeastern side, is the 51 acres (21 ha) Kiser Lake Wetlands State Nature Preserve. This preserve is a protected area for nature. The rest of the lake is surrounded by the 531 acres (215 ha) Kiser Lake State Park, which is a great place for outdoor fun.
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Discovering Kiser Lake's Past
Kiser Lake wasn't always called Kiser Lake! It was first known as Mosquito Lake.
How Mosquito Lake Was Born
The original Mosquito Lake was created way back in 1840. People built a dam across a stream called Mosquito Creek. This area in Champaign County was very low and swampy, perfect for creating a lake. The lake was made to power a grist mill (which grinds grain) and a saw mill (which cuts wood).
From Neglect to New Life
After the mills stopped working, the dam and the lake were left alone for many years. They weren't taken care of. But in 1932, a kind family named Kiser, led by John W. Kiser, owned the land. They decided to donate hundreds of acres of their land to the State of Ohio. Their goal was to rebuild the lake so people could use it for fun activities like boating and fishing.
Work on the new dam began in 1939, and by 1940, everything was finished. That's when Kiser Lake was filled up and became the lake we know today!
Who Takes Care of the Lake?
Today, Kiser Lake is looked after by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. They make sure the lake stays healthy and safe for everyone to enjoy.
