Lake Nokomis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Nokomis |
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Lake Nokomis in 2017
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 Lake Nokomis
Location in Minnesota
Lake Nokomis
Location in the United States
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USGS map
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| Location | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Coordinates | 44°54′34″N 93°14′32″W / 44.90944°N 93.24222°W |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 204 acres (83 ha) |
| Max. depth | 33 ft (10 m) |
| Surface elevation | 814 ft (248 m) |
| Frozen | Winter |
Lake Nokomis is one of several lakes found in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. It's a popular spot in the southern part of the city. The lake is west of the Mississippi River and south of Lake Hiawatha.
This lake used to be called Lake Amelia. It was named in 1819 after Amelia, the daughter of Captain George Gooding. In 1910, its name was changed to Lake Nokomis. This new name honors Nokomis, who was the grandmother of Hiawatha in Native American legends.
Lake Nokomis has an oval shape. Its longest part stretches from the southwest to the northeast. You can find two paths around the lake. One is a 2.7-mile (4.3 km) trail for walking. The other is a 2.8-mile (4.5 km) path for bicycles. The lake covers an area of about 204 acres (0.83 km2).
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How Lake Nokomis Was Formed
When the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board bought the lake in 1907, it was very shallow. The deepest part was only about 5 feet (1.5 m) deep. Much of the area was actually marshland, which is a wet, grassy area. It also served as a drainage area for the nearby neighborhoods.
To make the lake deeper, a process called dredging was used. Dredging means removing mud and sand from the bottom of a body of water. This helped create the deeper lake we see today. After it was developed, Lake Nokomis quickly became a very popular swimming spot. In 1924, many more people visited its beach than the beach at Bde Maka Ska.
Diving History at Lake Nokomis
In 1940, Dr. Chris Lambertsen made history at Lake Nokomis. He performed about 12 scuba dives using his new invention. This invention was called the Lambertsen Amphibious Respiratory Unit (LARU). The LARU was the first rebreather ever designed and built in the United States.
These dives were the first closed-circuit oxygen dives in U.S. history. A closed-circuit system means the diver breathes the same air over and over. During one dive, Dr. Lambertsen had a problem called oxygen toxicity. This happens when there's too much oxygen. But he was able to get back to the surface safely by himself.
Lake Preservation Efforts
Lake Nokomis has recently had a special project to protect it. This project created areas of native plants along the lake's edges. Native plants are those that naturally grow in the area.
Also, several artificial ponds were added. These ponds were built in areas that often flooded. They help manage water levels and create new habitats.
Fun Activities at the Lake
People in the area use Lake Nokomis for many different activities. Fishing and sailing are very popular. The lake has two beaches with nice, soft sand. The large park around the lake offers many ways to stay active. You can go walking, running, or cycling. There are also fields for softball and other sports.
The main beach is on the northwest side of the lake. It has a restaurant, snacks, and restrooms. You can also rent different equipment there. There is a playground for younger kids too. The smaller beach on the northeast side does not have snacks. But it does have portable toilets. It's important to know that the lake bed drops off quickly outside the marked swimming areas. This can be surprising and dangerous for swimmers.
Lake Nokomis has also hosted some unique events. From 1983 to 2000, it was home to the "Milk Carton Boat Race." This was part of the Minneapolis Aquatennial celebration. In 2001, the race moved back to Bde Maka Ska. The lake also hosts the Life Time Fitness triathlon every July. Many other races happen on summer weekends as well.
Until 1998, the east shore of the lake had many very large, old trees. Some of these trees were several feet wide. However, a strong storm with high winds hit the area in 1998. This storm uprooted many of these old trees.
Fish in Lake Nokomis
Lake Nokomis is home to many different kinds of fish. Some of the fish you might find include:
- black bullhead
- black crappie
- bluegill
- bowfin
- Largemouth bass
- carp
- golden shiner
- Hybrid sunfish
- pumpkinseed
- tiger muskellunge
- walleye
- white sucker
- yellow bullhead
- yellow perch
Sometimes, there are warnings about eating certain fish from the lake. For example, there are guidelines for walleye and white sucker. This is because of small amounts of mercury found in them.
Images for kids
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Lake Nokomis in 2017
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USGS map
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Frozen in winter, Lake Nokomis is the site of the U.S. pond hockey championships
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Boat launch and pier at Lake Nokomis
