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Lake Bonneville (Oregon) facts for kids

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Lake Bonneville
Corps-engineers-archives bonneville dam looking east.jpg
View eastward from Bonneville Dam. Lake Bonneville is upriver from the dam. The narrow section is the inundated Cascade Rapids.
Location of Lake Bonneville in Oregon and Washington, USA.
Location of Lake Bonneville in Oregon and Washington, USA.
Lake Bonneville
Location in Oregon
Location of Lake Bonneville in Oregon and Washington, USA.
Location of Lake Bonneville in Oregon and Washington, USA.
Lake Bonneville
Location in Washington (state)
Location of Lake Bonneville in Oregon and Washington, USA.
Location of Lake Bonneville in Oregon and Washington, USA.
Lake Bonneville
Location in the United States
Location Oregon / Washington,
United States
Coordinates 45°42′23″N 121°48′39″W / 45.70639°N 121.81083°W / 45.70639; -121.81083
Type reservoir
Primary inflows Columbia River
Primary outflows Columbia River
Basin countries United States
Max. length 46.8 miles (75.3 km)

Lake Bonneville is a large body of water found on the Columbia River. It stretches across parts of two U.S. states: Oregon and Washington. This lake is actually a special type of lake called a reservoir.

Discover Lake Bonneville!

A reservoir is like a big, artificial lake. It's created when people build a dam across a river. This dam holds back the river's water, forming a large pool behind it. Reservoirs are very useful. They can store water for drinking, help control floods, and even generate electricity.

How Was Lake Bonneville Created?

Lake Bonneville was formed in 1937. This happened when the Bonneville Dam was built on the Columbia River. The dam acts like a giant wall, stopping the river's flow and creating the lake behind it.

The lake stretches quite a distance. It goes from the Bonneville Dam all the way upstream to another dam called The Dalles Dam. This means the lake is a long, narrow body of water.

Where Can You Find Lake Bonneville?

Lake Bonneville is located in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It touches several different areas.

In Oregon, parts of the lake are found in three counties:

On the Washington side, the lake is in two counties:

So, Lake Bonneville is an important part of the landscape for people living in these areas. It provides many benefits because of its role as a reservoir.

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