Lake Mattoon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Mattoon |
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 Lake Mattoon
Location in Illinois
Lake Mattoon
Location in the United States
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| Location | Coles County, Illinois; Cumberland County, Illinois; Shelby County, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 39°21′22″N 88°28′10″W / 39.3560975°N 88.4693852°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Little Wabash River |
| Primary outflows | Little Wabash River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 4 mi (6.4 km) |
| Max. width | 0.5 mi (0.8 km) |
| Surface area | 1,050 acres (420 ha) |
| Average depth | 10.5 ft (3.2 m) |
| Max. depth | 35 ft (11 m) |
| Water volume | 2,600,000,000 US gal (0.0098 km3) |
| Shore length1 | 55.5 mi (90 km) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Lake Mattoon is a large, man-made lake in Illinois. It covers about 1,050 acres, which is like 800 football fields! Most of the lake is in Shelby County. This lake was created to provide drinking water for the towns of Mattoon and Neoga. It's also a popular spot for fishing and boating fun. The lake is about 4 miles long and half a mile wide.
About Lake Mattoon
Lake Mattoon is a special type of lake called a reservoir. This means it was built by people to store water. It helps supply clean drinking water to nearby towns. The lake is located where three counties meet: Coles, Cumberland, and Shelby.
Fun Activities
Lake Mattoon is a great place for outdoor activities. You can enjoy boating and fishing here. For boaters, you need to buy a permit to use the lake. There are no limits on how powerful your boat's engine can be. This makes it a perfect spot for waterskiing!
The lake is home to many kinds of fish. You might catch bass, bluegill, catfish, or crappie. It's a popular spot for anglers of all ages.
Getting There
If you want to visit Lake Mattoon, it's easy to find. The closest major highway is Interstate 57. You can take Exit 177 to get to the lake.
Nearby Features
Next to Lake Mattoon, there is a large power plant. This plant uses the lake's water as part of its operations to create electricity.
