Lake Ming facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Ming |
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Lake Ming, California in February 2012.
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 Lake Ming
Location in California
Lake Ming
Location in the United States
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| Location | Kern County, California |
| Coordinates | 35°26′24″N 118°51′58″W / 35.440°N 118.866°W |
| Type | Artificial |
| Primary inflows | Kern River |
| Primary outflows | Kern River |
| Built | 1959 |
| Max. length | 4,700 ft (1,400 m) |
| Surface area | 104 acres (42 ha) |
| Surface elevation | 518 ft (158 m) |
| Settlements | Bakersfield, California |
Lake Ming is a cool, man-made lake in Bakersfield, California. It's a super popular spot for outdoor fun, especially if you love being on the water! You can zoom around on motorboats or glide across the surface while water-skiing. Sometimes, you might even catch exciting jet boat races here.
Lake Ming is also a great place for fishing. During the winter, the lake is stocked with rainbow trout. You can also find other fish like Largemouth Bass, Catfish, Crappie, Bluegill, and Carp. This fun lake is part of the bigger Kern River County Park.
History of Lake Ming
Lake Ming was created in 1959. It was formed by building a dam on a small stream that flows into the Kern River. The lake was named after Floyd Ming, who was a supervisor for Kern County at the time. It was built to provide a place for people to enjoy water sports and fishing.
Fun Activities at the Lake
Lake Ming is mainly used for motorboating and water-skiing. It's a busy spot for those who love speed on the water. However, if you prefer a quieter ride, sailboats are allowed on the second full weekend of each month. They can also sail every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon after 1:30 pm.
The National Jet Boat Association often holds exciting races at Lake Ming. These events bring lots of action and spectators to the lake throughout the year.
About the Lake's Features
Lake Ming is a reservoir, which means it's an artificial lake used for recreation. The Kern County Parks and Recreation Department takes care of it. The dam that holds the lake is about 18 feet (5.5 m) tall. The lake itself stretches for about 4,700 feet (1,400 m) (that's almost a mile!).
The lake covers an area of about 104 acres (42 ha). Around the southern part of the lake, you'll find lots of helpful facilities. These include picnic areas where you can have lunch, restrooms, and drinking fountains. There's also plenty of parking available. For younger visitors, there's a playground at the southeast end of the lake. East of the lake, on a small hill, there's another large picnic area with a great view.
Even further east, you'll find a 28-acre (11 ha) campground. It has 50 campsites, each with a picnic table and a fire ring for campfires. The campground also has a dump site and restrooms for campers.
