Lahontan State Recreation Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lahontan State Recreation Area |
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Lahontan Dam on the Carson River
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 Lahontan State Recreation Area
Location in Nevada
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| Location | Lyon County and Churchill County, Nevada, United States |
| Nearest city | Fallon |
| Area | 28,892.3 acres (116.923 km2) |
| Elevation | 4,258 ft (1,298 m) |
| Designation | Nevada state recreation area |
| Established | 1971 |
| Administrator | Nevada Division of State Parks |
| Website | Lahontan State Recreation Area |
The Lahontan State Recreation Area is a fun place in Nevada where you can enjoy the outdoors. It's built around Lake Lahontan, which is a large lake formed by the Carson River. This lake is about 17 miles (27 km) long. It's located about 18 miles (29 km) west of Fallon, Nevada.
When the lake is full, it has 69 miles (111 km) of shoreline. The water covers about 11,200 acres (4,500 hectares). Most of the park is in a high desert area. You'll see lots of sagebrush plants here. Along the lake's edge, there are also trees like cottonwoods and willows.
You can easily get to the park from U.S. Route 50 near the Lahontan Dam. Another way to get there is from U.S. Route 95 in Silver Springs. A special path called Carson River Ranches connects this park to Fort Churchill State Historic Park.
How Lake Lahontan Was Made
The Lahontan Dam was built on the Carson River. This happened after a law called the Newlands Reclamation Act was passed in 1902. The dam is very big, standing 162 feet (49 meters) tall and 1,700 feet (518 meters) long. It was finished in 1915.
The lake behind the dam was named after an ancient lake. This old lake, called Lake Lahontan, covered a huge part of Nevada during the last ice age. When the new lake filled up, it covered parts of old stagecoach roads from the 1800s. One of these spots was Williams Station. This place was involved in a small fight during the Paiute War.
At first, the park was managed by Churchill and Lyon counties. But in 1971, it became a state-run recreation area.
Fun Things to Do at the Park
Lahontan State Recreation Area is a great spot for many outdoor activities. You can go boating and water skiing on the lake. It's also a popular place for fishing.
If you want to stay overnight, camping is allowed. There's a special campground at Silver Springs Beach #7. You can also do "primitive camping" in most other areas. This means you can set up camp in less developed spots. The park also has trails along the lake where you can explore.
