Lake Houston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Houston |
|
|---|---|
 Lake Houston
Location in Texas
Lake Houston
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 15 miles (24 km) northeast of downtown Houston, Texas |
| Coordinates | 29°57.53′N 95°8.93′W / 29.95883°N 95.14883°W |
| Type | Municipal water reservoir |
| Primary inflows | west fork of the San Jacinto River |
| Primary outflows | San Jacinto River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 11,854 acres (4,797 ha) |
| Max. depth | 45 ft (14 m) |
| Water volume | 160,000 acre⋅ft (0.20 km3) |
| Surface elevation | 44 ft (13 m) |
Lake Houston is a large reservoir (a man-made lake) located about 15 miles (24 km) northeast of downtown Houston, Texas. It was built on the San Jacinto River. This huge lake is super important because it provides most of the drinking water for the city of Houston.
Contents
Where is Lake Houston?
Lake Houston is surrounded by several communities. On its west side, you'll find Kingwood, Atascocita, and Humble. To the south is Sheldon, and on the east, you'll see Crosby and Huffman. A big earthen dam, which is like a wall made of earth, stretches across the southern part of the lake near Dwight D. Eisenhower Park.
How Lake Houston Was Made
Lake Houston was created in 1953. The city of Houston built a large dam to hold back the water from the San Jacinto River. This created the reservoir. Before Lake Houston, Sheldon Lake was the main water source for the city. After Lake Houston was built, Sheldon Lake was sold to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Now, it's a special place for birds and a popular spot for fishing.
In 1956, the city of Houston officially took over the Lake Houston area. They also took control of a 22.5-mile (36.2 km) canal that helps move water from the lake.
Fish and Plants in the Lake
Lake Houston is home to many kinds of fish. Some of these fish were put into the lake on purpose to make it a better place for fishing. You can find different types of catfish, largemouth bass, white crappie, and bluegill swimming in its waters.
Fun Things to Do at Lake Houston
Lake Houston is a great place for outdoor activities. Many people enjoy boating and fishing on the lake.
At the northern end of the lake, there's a place called Lake Houston Wilderness Park. This park offers lots of fun things to do:
- You can rent cabins if you want to stay overnight.
- There are special areas for camping.
- You can launch a kayak and paddle around.
- There are trails for hiking and biking.
Images for kids
-
This image shows how water moves in Lake Houston.
