Lake Pleasant Regional Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Pleasant |
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 Lake Pleasant
Location in Arizona
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| Location | Peoria and Morristown in Maricopa and Yavapai counties, Arizona, US |
| Coordinates | 33°53′43″N 112°16′58″W / 33.89528°N 112.28278°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Agua Fria River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 7,500 acres (11.7 sq mi; 30 km2) |
| Average depth | 70 ft (21 m) |
| Max. depth | 170 ft (52 m) |
| Surface elevation | 1,700 ft (520 m) |
Lake Pleasant Regional Park is a huge outdoor area in Arizona, near Phoenix. It's a popular spot for fun activities and is located mostly within the city of Peoria, Arizona. The park is a major recreation hub for people living in the northwest Phoenix area.
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Lake Pleasant: A Giant Playground and Water Source
The main attraction of the park is Lake Pleasant, a massive lake covering about 10,000 acres (16 sq mi; 40 km2). It's one of the most important man-made lakes, called reservoirs, that help supply water to the Phoenix area.
How Lake Pleasant Was Made
The lake was first created by the Carl Pleasant Dam, which was finished in 1927. When it was built, it was the biggest multi-arch dam in the world! Back then, the lake was much smaller, about 3,700 acres (5.8 sq mi; 15 km2), and was mainly used to help farmers water their crops. The original dam was 76 ft (23 m) tall and 2,160 ft (660 m) long. The Agua Fria River was the main source of water for the lake.
Later, a huge project called the Central Arizona Project Aqueduct began in 1973. This project brought water from the distant Colorado River to Lake Pleasant. This changed the lake from just a farming water source into a big storage tank for the project. In 1994, the New Waddell Dam was completed. This new dam was so big that it tripled the size of the lake and even covered the old Carl Pleasant Dam underwater!
After the new dam was built, the area had a long period without much rain. Even though the lake grew a lot, it didn't completely fill up until 2005. Today, while the Agua Fria River still feeds the lake, the CAP aqueduct is the main way water gets into Lake Pleasant.
Fun on the Water
Lake Pleasant is a super popular place for water sports in the Phoenix area. It's also a very important place for storing water for the fast-growing region. There are many places to launch boats and access the beaches. This makes the lake a favorite spot for:
- Scuba diving
- Water skiing
- Jet skiing
- Sailing
- Windsurfing
- And many other water activities!
Staying Safe at the Lake
It's really important to be careful when you visit Lake Pleasant. The water can be very deep, and with many boats around, it's always good to be aware of your surroundings and follow safety rules.
Fish Species in Lake Pleasant
Lake Pleasant is home to many different kinds of fish. Here are some you might find:
- Threadfin Shad
- Bluegill
- Redear Sunfish
- Green Sunfish
- Black Crappie
- White Crappie
- Largemouth Bass
- Smallmouth Bass
- White Bass
- Striped Bass
- Channel Catfish
- Flathead Catfish
- Common Carp
- Tilapia
Other Fish You Might Find
- Sucker
- Gizzard Shad
- Yellow Perch
- Walleye
- Northern Pike
- Muskellunge
- Rainbow Trout
- Blue Catfish
- Bullhead
- Goldfish
- Buffalo
Fish That Have Been Released from Aquariums Sometimes, people release pet fish into the lake. Here are some types that have been found:
- Peacock Bass
- Arowana
- Cichlids
- Pacu
- Rocket Gar
- Ripsaw Catfish
- Bala Shark
- Colombian Shark
- Iridescent Shark
- Rainbow Shark
- Red Tail Shark
- Silver Apollo Shark
More to Do at Lake Pleasant Regional Park
The park covers a huge area of over 23,000 acres (93 km2) of mountains and desert, including the lake itself. Besides water sports, there are lots of other fun things to do:
- Mountain biking
- Camping
- Hiking
The park also has a special visitors' center. Here, you can learn all about the history of the lake, how the Waddell Dam was built, and interesting facts about the surrounding area.
Other activities have also popped up near the lake because it's so popular. These include a dirt racetrack and a large school where people learn to fly gliders.
The nearby city of Peoria has included the park and land around it in its plans for the future. This shows how much the area is growing and how popular Lake Pleasant is becoming!
Annual Events at Lake Pleasant
The park hosts exciting events every year:
- Lake Pleasant Paddle Fest: A whole day dedicated to different kinds of paddle boats and fun activities on the water.
- Bill Luke Bass Days: A festival held at the Lake Pleasant Marina, with carnival rides, a cornhole tournament, wildlife exhibits, vendors, food, and live music.
Getting to Lake Pleasant
It's easy to get to Lake Pleasant from Phoenix. Several roads connect the area to the main highways. The Carefree Highway is the main road to the lake. Other nearby highways that connect the lake to the rest of the Phoenix area include the Loop 303 and I-17.
Gallery
Here are some pictures of the beautiful scenery at Lake Pleasant Regional Park and the ruins of an ancient village built by the Hohokam Puebloans about 1000 years ago.
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Sandstone cliffs at Lake Pleasant Regional Park.
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Scenery at Lake Pleasant Regional Park.
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Indian Mesa at Lake Pleasant Regional Park in Arizona. On top of the Mesa are the ruins of a village built by the Hohokam Puebloans about 1000 years ago.
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Hiking trail leading to the Indian Mesa (in the background). The hiking trail is located on a portion of a canal which the Hohokam built in 700 AD. The canal is now filled with soil.
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U.S. Bureau of Land Management Marker on Indian Mesa. The marker warns that removal of artifacts is strictly forbidden by Federal Law.
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Part of the wall of the fort that surrounded the village. The holes in the wall are viewing holes so the defenders can view the only path to the top.
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A posthole dug by the Hohokams inside their house. The Hohokams placed heavy mesquite or pine posts in them to support a roof.
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Different view of the ruins of a Hohokam house.
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Another view of the ruins of a Hohokam house.
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Entrance to a Hohokam home. Lake Pleasant is in the background.
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Rocky trail leading to the entrance of a Hohokam house.
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Ancient Hohokam pottery pieces (small brown ones) found at Indian Mesa.
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Lake Pleasant – north view with Bradshaw Mountains in background
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Lake Pleasant – south view in general direction of Phoenix
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Cacti "forests" leading in to Lake Pleasant Regional Park
