Lake Hefner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Hefner |
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 Lake Hefner
Location in Oklahoma
Lake Hefner
Location in the United States
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| Location | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Coordinates | 35°34′04″N 97°35′45″W / 35.567820°N 97.595740°W |
| Lake type | reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 2,500 acres (1,000 ha) |
| Average depth | 29 ft (8.8 m) |
| Max. depth | 94 ft (29 m) |
| Water volume | 75,000 acre⋅ft (93,000,000 m3) |
| Settlements | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
Lake Hefner is a large reservoir located in northwestern Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It was built in 1947 to help provide enough water for the growing city. The lake is named after Robert A. Hefner, who was the mayor of Oklahoma City from 1939 to 1947. Besides being a vital water source, Lake Hefner is also a popular spot for outdoor fun. It has about 9.5 miles (15 kilometers) of trails around it, which are great for biking and walking.
About Lake Hefner
Lake Hefner is quite big, covering 2,500 acres (about 10 square kilometers). It holds a lot of water, around 75,000 acre-feet. The lake is usually about 29 feet (9 meters) deep on average.
What's Around the Lake?
Lake Hefner is right inside Oklahoma City. Many homes are built close to its northern, western, and eastern sides. The Lake Hefner Dam stretches along the entire northern edge of the lake.
Lake Hefner Parkway runs along the east side. The south side of the lake is less developed and still has many trees. You can find the Lake Hefner Golf Course on the southwest corner.
Just south of the golf course are the Oklahoma City docks. This is the biggest marina on the lake. Another marina is the Oklahoma City Boat Club (OCBC). This is a private group that holds sailboat races every week in the summer. It's located on the east side of the lake.
North of the OCBC is the East Wharf area. Here you'll find several nice restaurants. On the south side of the lake, there's Hobie Point, which has a YMCA sailing school. You'll also find Stars and Stripes Park there. The Oklahoma Radio Kontrol Society (TORKS) has had a field for flying remote-control airplanes there since the 1970s.
Fun Things to Do
Lake Hefner is a very popular place for fishing for people in Oklahoma City. The lake is home to many different kinds of fish. You can find largemouth and smallmouth bass, channel catfish, walleye, bluegill, and black crappie. There are also white bass and hybrid striped bass.
The lake is also a great spot for recreational boating. Many people enjoy sailing or using motorized boats here. Kiteboarding is also very popular on Lake Hefner. The lake often has excellent wind, which is perfect for kiteboarding during the summer.
