Lake Galena (Pennsylvania) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Galena |
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View of Lake Galena from dam
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 Lake Galena
Location in Pennsylvania
Lake Galena
Location in the United States
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| Location | New Britain Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, US |
| Coordinates | 40°19′30″N 75°11′24″W / 40.3250986°N 75.1900269°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Neshaminy Creek |
| Primary outflows | Neshaminy Creek |
| Catchment area | 9,922 acres (40.2 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 1.78 mi (2.86 km) |
| Max. width | 0.44 mi (0.71 km) |
| Surface area | 365 acres (1.5 km2) |
| Average depth | 15 ft (4.6 m) |
| Max. depth | 42 ft (13 m) |
| Water volume | 55,128 acre⋅ft (67.999 hm3) |
| Surface elevation | 321 ft (97.8 m) |
Lake Galena is a large, man-made lake in Peace Valley Park, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is also called a reservoir. This lake was created in 1974 when a dam was built across the north branch of the Neshaminy Creek.
How Lake Galena Was Made
Lake Galena was formed when Bucks County flooded the area in 1972. Before this, the land where the lake now sits was mostly a village called New Galena. People in this village mainly worked in farming.
Some mining also took place there. Miners found a mineral called galena. They also found small amounts of zinc, silver, copper, and gold. Mining had been happening since 1861.
In 1998, a special marker was put up to remember the history of this area.
Water for Everyone
Lake Galena helps provide drinking water for many people. It gets extra water from the Delaware River. This water helps about 150,000 people in Bucks and Montgomery counties.
The lake supplies water to the North Penn Water Authority and the North Wales Water Authority. The water is taken from the creek just below the dam.
Fun at Peace Valley Park
Lake Galena is completely surrounded by Peace Valley Park. The park has many trails for walking, biking, and even horseback riding.
You can also enjoy other activities on the lake. These include canoeing, fishing, and sailing. The path around the lake is about 8 miles (13 km) long. Every summer in August, a 10K race called "Friends of the Dove" is held at the lake.
