Lake Vermilion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Vermilion |
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Lake Vermilion during the day
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 Lake Vermilion
Location in Minnesota
Lake Vermilion
Location in the United States
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| Location | Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States |
| Coordinates | 47°51′28.47″N 92°17′58.60″W / 47.8579083°N 92.2996111°W |
| Primary outflows | Vermilion River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 24 mi (39 km) |
| Max. width | 10.38 mi (16.70 km) |
| Surface area | 39,271 acres (158.9 km2) |
| Average depth | 25 ft (7.6 m) |
| Max. depth | 76 ft (23 m) |
| Shore length1 | 313 mi (504 km) |
| Surface elevation | 1,358 ft (414 m) |
| Islands | 365 |
| Settlements | Tower and Cook |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Lake Vermilion is a beautiful freshwater lake in northeastern Minnesota, United States. It is known for its clear waters and great fishing. The Ojibwe people first called the lake Nee-Man-Nee. This name means "the evening sun tinting the water a reddish color." Later, French fur traders translated this to the Latin word Vermilion, which is a bright red color.
Lake Vermilion is located between the towns of Tower and Cook. It is in the heart of Minnesota's Arrowhead Region. This area was once important for mining iron. The Soudan Mine, a famous old mine, was just south of the lake.
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Fishing Fun
Lake Vermilion is a very popular spot for fishing! You can find many types of fish here. These include black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, largemouth bass, muskellunge, and northern pike. You can also catch sunfish, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (also called cisco), walleye, white sucker, and yellow perch.
The lake is especially famous for its walleye and muskie fishing. In 2005, Lake Vermilion hosted the annual Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener Weekend. It hosted it again in 2015.
Fishing Rules
To help keep the fish population healthy, there are special rules for fishing. For walleye, you can keep four fish. However, only one of these can be longer than 26 inches. Fish between 20 and 26 inches must be put back into the lake.
Fish Safety
Sometimes, there are guidelines for how much fish you should eat from the lake. This is because of small amounts of mercury. For example, it is suggested not to eat Northern pike and walleye over 15 inches more than twice a week. But if you are just visiting and fishing for fun, there are no limits on how much you can eat.
Visiting Lake Vermilion
Many people visit Lake Vermilion from all over Minnesota and the Midwest. They stay at the lake's many resorts and hotels. Tourists love Lake Vermilion because it is a great place to fish. They also enjoy its beautiful setting in the northern Minnesota wilderness. The lake is close to the Superior National Forest. It is also near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). This is a large area where you can canoe and enjoy nature.
Lake Facts
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says Lake Vermilion is the fifth largest lake in Minnesota. It covers an area of 39,271 acres (158.9 km2). The deepest part of the lake is 76 feet (23 m). Lake Vermilion is the southernmost part of the Canadian Shield. This is a very old and rocky part of the Earth's crust. The lake has over 365 islands!
Lake Vermilion State Park
In 2007, Governor Tim Pawlenty announced that the state wanted to buy land on the lake. This land was on the southeastern shore. The plan was to create a new Minnesota state park. The state bought the land for $18 million in 2010. The new park is called Lake Vermilion State Park. It is being developed on the southern shore of the lake. It is right next to the Soudan Underground Mine State Park.
Local Community
The Bois Forte Band of Chippewa has a small reservation on the lake. This is a special area for their community. Also, the Stuntz Bay Boathouse Historic District is located on the lake's shores. These boathouses were built in the early 1900s. They were built by workers from the nearby Soudan Iron Mine.
See also
In Spanish: Lago Vermillion para niños
