Lake Lenore (Washington) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lenore Lake |
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State Route 17 along Lake Lenore
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 Lenore Lake
Location in Washington (state)
Lenore Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Grant County, Washington |
| Coordinates | 47°30′07″N 119°30′43″W / 47.5020°N 119.5120°W |
| Catchment area | 367 sq mi (950 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 8 mi (13 km) |
| Average depth | 15 ft (4.6 m) |
| Max. depth | 27 ft (8.2 m) |
| Water volume | 19,500 acre⋅ft (24,100,000 m3) |
| Shore length1 | 14.4 mi (23.2 km) |
| Surface elevation | 1,075 ft (328 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Lake Lenore, also known as Lenore Lake, is a long, narrow lake in Grant County, Washington, United States. It covers about 1,670 acres (680 hectares). This lake was created by the powerful Missoula Floods a long time ago. It sits in a valley called a coulee, just north of the town of Soap Lake, Washington.
Lake Lenore is located between Alkali Lake to the north and Soap Lake to the south. It stretches from near the city of Soap Lake all the way to Coulee City. You can see it right next to State Route 17.
The area around Lake Lenore is part of the Scablands. These are unique landscapes formed by massive floods.
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Exploring the Lenore Caves
One of the most interesting spots near Lake Lenore is the Lenore Caves. These caves are not like typical caverns. They are actually a series of large overhangs along the cliffs at the northern end of the lake.
How the Caves Formed
The Lenore Caves were formed by the incredible force of the Missoula Floods. As the floods rushed through, they pulled pieces of basalt rock from the coulee walls. This action created the large, cave-like shelters we see today. The area is also one of the biggest volcanic regions on Earth.
Ancient Shelters
Long ago, these natural shelters were used by early Native Americans. They provided protection from the weather and a place to live.
Visiting the Caves
You can easily reach the Lenore Caves. There is a road that leads from State Route 17 (which runs along Lake Lenore) to a parking area near the caves.
A Bit of History
In January 1947, some materials were placed into Lake Lenore. This was done by a U.S. government agency at the time.
