Lake Crystal (Blue Earth County, Minnesota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Crystal |
|
|---|---|
Crystal Lake in 2016, viewed looking southeast
|
|
 Lake Crystal
Location in Minnesota
|
|
| Location | Blue Earth County, Minnesota |
| Coordinates | 44°06′34″N 94°12′07″W / 44.10944°N 94.20194°W |
| Type | Glacial |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface elevation | 974ft (297m) |
| Settlements | Lake Crystal |
Lake Crystal is a beautiful lake located in Blue Earth County, Minnesota, in the United States. It's also known as Crystal Lake. The city of Lake Crystal, Minnesota is right next to it, making the lake a special part of the community.
Contents
Discovering Lake Crystal
Lake Crystal got its name because its water was super clear, just like a crystal! Two explorers, John C. Fremont and J. N. Nicollet, gave it this name.
In 1854, when people were exploring the area to start a new town, Lake Crystal was the second lake they found. One of the town's founders, William Riley Robinson, even decided to live right by the lake's shore.
Fun Times on the Lake
For a long time, Lake Crystal has been a popular spot for fun activities, travel, and getting important resources.
Early Lake Activities
Back in 1893, the Lake Crystal Boat Club built a special building called a pavilion. You can still find this spot today at what is now Robinson Park. In the same year, they launched a steamboat named the 'New Era'. This boat could carry 25 passengers and took them on fun, twenty-minute trips around the lake every day. People believe the 'New Era' steamboat eventually sank near the southwest side of the lake.
Ice Harvesting Business
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Lake Crystal was also important for business. People would harvest large blocks of ice from the lake during winter. They would then sell this ice, which was a big deal before refrigerators were common!
Keeping the Lake Clean
Over the years, some activities like filling in land and nearby farming caused pollution in the lake. But people noticed this and decided to help.
The Crystal Waters Project
The Crystal Waters Project is a group dedicated to cleaning up not only Lake Crystal but also other water systems in the Lake Crystal area. They've done a lot of great work!
- In 2013, 2014, and 2017, they worked on restoring the shoreline of Robinson Park. This helped protect the land around the lake.
- In 2015, they removed a huge amount of carp from the lake – about 97,000 pounds! Carp are a type of fish that can sometimes make lake water less clear.
- They also launched two special floating islands into the lake. These islands help filter and clean the water naturally.
- In 2019, Robinson Park was celebrated again after all the improvements. A new fishing dock and a special garden designed to stop soil erosion were added along the lake.
Parks and Places to Explore
Lake Crystal is the biggest of three lakes near the town of Lake Crystal. Many parks and natural areas are located along its shores. There are also private boat landings and homes.
Robinson Park
The largest park on the lake is Robinson Park. It's one of the most popular parks in the town. At Robinson Park, you can find a boat landing to put your boat in the water and a fishing pier where you can try to catch some fish.
Lake Crystal Cemetery
Interestingly, the Lake Crystal Cemetery is located on a piece of land that sticks out into the lake. It's almost completely surrounded by the water.
