Lake Atalanta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Atalanta |
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Lake Atalanta, 2010
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 Lake Atalanta
Location in Arkansas
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| Location | Rogers, Arkansas (Benton County) |
| Coordinates | 36°20′18″N 94°5′54.9″W / 36.33833°N 94.098583°W |
| Lake type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Prairie Creek |
| Catchment area | 6.0 km2 (2.3 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Managing agency | City of Rogers |
| Built | 1936 |
| Max. length | 0.28 km (0.17 mi) |
| Surface area | 0.12 km2 (0.046 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 13 m (43 ft) |
| Water volume | 800 acre⋅ft (990,000 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 370 m (1,210 ft) |
| Islands | none |
Lake Atalanta is a special kind of lake called a reservoir. It was made by building a dam across Prairie Creek in Rogers, Arkansas. People mostly use it for fun activities like playing and fishing. The lake was built a long time ago in 1936 by a group called the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which helped people find jobs during a tough time in history.
The lake is named after Atalanta Gregory. Her husband, O.L. Gregory, gave most of the land where the lake is now. The dam that created Lake Atalanta is called Lake Atalanta Dam. It's made of earth and rocks, and it's about 43 feet (13 m) tall and 910 feet (280 m) long.
Lake Atalanta Park: Fun for Everyone
Lake Atalanta is surrounded by a beautiful park. This park is actually the second oldest park in Rogers! It's a great place to visit with friends and family.
The park has lots of cool things to do. You can find a playground where kids can play, picnic areas for outdoor meals, and a walking trail for exploring. There's even another city park, Lake Atalanta Dam Site, located just below the dam. It was built in 1987.
Fishing at Lake Atalanta
Lake Atalanta is a popular spot for fishing. It's part of a special program in Arkansas called the "Family and Community Fishing Program." This program helps make fishing easy and fun for everyone.
The lake is stocked with different kinds of fish throughout the year. In the summer, you can try to catch channel catfish. When winter comes, rainbow trout are added to the lake. If you want to know exactly when fish are stocked or what special rules apply, you can check the official Arkansas fishing handbooks.
History of Lake Atalanta
Lake Atalanta was built between 1936 and 1938. It was a big project by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was a government agency created during the "New Deal" era. Its goal was to give jobs to many people during the Great Depression.
For about ten years after it was built, the area around Lake Atalanta was mostly used for fishing. There weren't many buildings or special areas. But in 1948 and 1949, things started to change! A swimming pool, a miniature golf course, a roller skating rink, and a restaurant were all built. This made Lake Atalanta a popular place for fun and entertainment.
In the mid-1950s, Lake Atalanta became very important for the city. It started to be used as a source of drinking water for Rogers. A water treatment plant was built to clean the lake water so people could drink it safely.
During a time when there wasn't much rain in the 1960s, the lake almost dried up! To fix this, water had to be pumped into Lake Atalanta from a nearby lake called Beaver Lake. By 1970, Beaver Lake became the main source of water for Rogers, and Lake Atalanta was no longer used for drinking water.
