Leech Lake Facts for Kids

This page is about the lake in Cass County. For the lake in Chisago County, see Leech Lake (Chisago County, Minnesota).

Quick facts for kids Leech Lake
Lake and Dam
Leech Lake Location in Minnesota
Location	Chippewa National Forest, Cass County, Minnesota, U.S.
Coordinates	47°09′21″N 94°23′24″W / 47.155755°N 94.389896°W / 47.155755; -94.389896
Primary outflows	Leech Lake River
Basin countries	United States

Surface area	102,947.83 acres (41,661.51 ha)
Max. depth	150 ft (46 m)
Shore length¹	160.9 sq mi (417 km²)

Settlements	(see article)
¹ Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Leech Lake is a large lake in north central Minnesota, United States. It is found southeast of Bemidji. Most of the lake is within the Leech Lake Indian Reservation. It is also completely inside the Chippewa National Forest. This lake is used as a reservoir to store water.

Leech Lake is the third largest lake in Minnesota. It covers about 102,947.83 acres (416.6151 km²) of water. The lake has 195 miles (314 km) of shoreline, which is like a very long beach! Its deepest point is about 156 feet (48 m) deep.

How Leech Lake Works: Hydrology
- Islands of Leech Lake
Lake Life: Ecology
A Look Back: History
Fun and Business: Economy
- Having Fun: Recreational Use
- Nearby Communities: Towns
Images for kids
See also

How Leech Lake Works: Hydrology

Walker Bay and The Narrows, looking south from Oak Point

Leech Lake sends its water into the Leech Lake River. This river then flows into the famous Mississippi River. There is a special dam that controls how much water leaves the lake. This helps keep the lake's water level steady.

The lake gets its water from seven main streams. These include Portage Lake Creek, Sucker Creek, and the Boy River. There are also nine smaller streams that flow into Leech Lake.

The larger east part of Leech Lake, as seen from The Narrows

Islands of Leech Lake

Leech Lake has eleven islands. Together, these islands cover about 1,617 acres of land. That's a lot of island space!

Here are the islands, from largest to smallest:

Bear Island
Minnesota Island
Pelican Island
Headquarters Bay Island
Big Pipe Island
Goose Island
Bog (Duck) Island
Narrows Island
Little Bear Island
Little Pelican Island
Gull Island
Shingobee Island

Shingobee Island in Walker Bay

The long and narrow Shingobee Bay is part of Leech Lake. It is located at the southern end of the lake. Shingobee Bay and the nearby Walker Bay are some of the deepest spots in the entire lake.

Lake Life: Ecology

Unwanted Guests: Invasive Species

Invasive species are plants or animals that are not native to an area. They can cause harm to the environment.

Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

This is an invasive plant that grows along the lake shores. It can take over areas where native plants like cattails usually grow. Purple loosestrife doesn't provide good food or homes for local animals. One plant can make about two million seeds each year, spreading very quickly.

Narrow-leaf Cattail (Typha angustifolia)

This invasive cattail can grow in deeper water than native cattails. It competes with the native Typha latifolia (broad leaf cattail). It also competes with other native plants around Leech Lake.

Fish and Other Aquatic Animals

Leech Lake is a very popular spot for sport fishing. Many different kinds of fish live here. Some state records for fish were caught in Leech Lake in 1999. These include a 12-pound lake whitefish and a 1-pound pumpkinseed.

Walleye

Muskellunge

Here are some of the fish species you can find in the lake:

Plants in the Water: Vegetation

Wild Rice

This important plant grows in the shallow parts of Leech Lake. It covers over 4,000 acres of water. Wild rice is a very valuable crop for the local Leech Lake community.

Bulrush (Bulrush)

These are grass-like plants that grow in the water. They can grow up to ten feet tall. Bulrush plants are an important food source for the aquatic animals in Leech Lake.

Majestic Birds: Eagles

Two mature bald eagles nesting on the shores of Oak Point

Leech Lake and the nearby national forest are home to many bald eagles. These amazing birds often return to the same nests year after year. The number of bald eagles has grown a lot over the past few decades.

A Look Back: History

Ojibwa women in canoe, Leech Lake

On old maps, Leech Lake was called "lac Sangsue" in French. This means "Bloodsucker Lake." This name was then translated into English as Leech Lake. The French name came from the Ojibwe name "Ozagaskwaajimekaag-zaaga'igan," which also means "lake abundant with bloodsuckers."

In 1855, the Leech Lake Indian Reservation was created on the south shore of Leech Lake. Over time, other reservations in the area joined together. In 1936, five reservations combined to form the larger Leech Lake Indian Reservation. This reservation now covers most of Leech Lake.

On October 5, 1898, a conflict happened at Leech Lake. It was between the Ojibwe people and soldiers from the United States. This event is known as the Battle of Sugar Point. A fight started when a soldier accidentally fired his rifle. This happened while soldiers were trying to find someone who was selling alcohol illegally. A soldier named Oscar Burkard later received the Medal of Honor for his bravery in this battle.

Fun and Business: Economy

Having Fun: Recreational Use

Every February, Leech Lake hosts a special event called the International Eelpout Festival. The eelpout, also known as the Burbot, is a fish rarely seen in the lake. But in winter, it becomes very common! The festival has fun activities like a fancy dinner and ice bowling. There's also a contest to catch the biggest eelpout.