Lake Hamilton and Lake Catherine facts for kids
Lake Hamilton and Lake Catherine are two beautiful man-made lakes located near Hot Springs, Arkansas. These lakes were built to help create electricity. They have also made Hot Springs a very popular place for tourists to visit. Both lakes were created by a company called Arkansas Power & Light, which is now part of Entergy.
Quick facts for kids Lake Hamilton |
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 Lake Hamilton
Location in Arkansas
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| Location | Garland County, Arkansas, United States |
| Coordinates | 34°25′57″N 93°05′19″W / 34.4325°N 93.0887°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Ouachita River |
| Primary outflows | Ouachita River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 7,200 acres (2,900 ha) |
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Lake Hamilton: A Popular Spot
Lake Hamilton is a large reservoir covering about 7,200-acre (2,900 ha). It is located near Lake Hamilton, Arkansas and Hot Springs. The lake was formed by Carpenter Dam on the Ouachita River. This river is one of Arkansas's most well-known rivers.
Carpenter Dam: Power and History
Carpenter Dam was named after Flavius Josephus Carpenter. It is over 1,000 feet (300 m) long and 100 feet (30 m) high. The dam has a special facility that makes electricity using water power. This is called a hydroelectric power generation facility. The dam was finished in 1931. In 1992, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site.
Fun Activities at Lake Hamilton
Lake Hamilton was created in 1932. Its main purpose was to produce electricity. But now, it is also a fantastic place for fun and relaxation. Many resorts, restaurants, and motels are built around the lake.
People love to do many activities here. These include parasailing, boating, fishing, and waterskiing. A large boat called the Belle of Hot Springs offers cruises on the lake. It can carry 400 passengers. You can also reach Garvan Woodland Gardens by boat. This is a beautiful 210-acre (85 ha) botanical park.
Lake Hamilton was named after Hamilton Moses. He later became a very important leader for Arkansas Power and Light.
Water Safety on the Lake
In 1999, a boat accident happened on Lake Hamilton. This event highlighted the importance of water safety. After the accident, new safety rules were added in Arkansas. These rules made sure that children wear life preservers on most boats. This helps keep everyone safe while enjoying the water.
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Lake Hamilton viewed from Garvan Woodland Gardens property.
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Lake Hamilton
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Lake Hamilton
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Garvan Woodlands Gardens by Lake Hamilton
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Garvan Woodlands Gardens by Lake Hamilton
Lake Catherine: A Smaller Gem
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Lake Catherine
Location in Arkansas
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| Location | Garland / Hot Spring counties, Arkansas, United States |
| Coordinates | 34°26′39″N 92°54′48″W / 34.4442°N 92.9134°W |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 1,940 acres (790 ha) |
Lake Catherine is a smaller lake near Hot Springs. It covers about 1,940-acre (790 ha). Lake Catherine State Park is right on the lake's shore. This state park has 18 cabins where visitors can stay.
Remmel Dam: Creating Lake Catherine
Lake Catherine was created in the 1920s. This happened when Remmel Dam was built. Remmel Dam is a special type of concrete and steel dam. It was built to make hydroelectricity, just like Carpenter Dam.
Because of the dam, the lake was formed. Its location next to Hot Springs made it a great place for recreation. Remmel Dam is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Lake Catherine
