List of lakes of Jefferson County, Montana facts for kids

Jefferson County, Montana, is home to at least 22 named lakes and reservoirs. These amazing bodies of water are important for many reasons, from providing homes for wildlife to offering fun places for people to visit. A lake is a natural body of water, usually fresh water, surrounded by land. A reservoir is similar to a lake, but it's man-made. People build dams across rivers to create reservoirs, often to store water for drinking, farming, or making electricity.

Discovering Jefferson County's Lakes

Lakes are natural wonders, formed over thousands of years by things like glaciers, volcanoes, or even rivers changing course. In Jefferson County, you can find several beautiful natural lakes, each with its own unique features. These lakes are often important habitats for fish, birds, and other animals. They also offer great spots for fishing, boating, and enjoying nature.

Natural Lakes in Jefferson County

Here are some of the natural lakes you can find in Jefferson County, Montana:

• Cliff Lake, 46°20′20″N 112°22′57″W / 46.33889°N 112.38250°W / 46.33889; -112.38250 (Cliff Lake), sits at an elevation of 7,031 feet (2,143 m).
• Cottonwood Lake, 46°19′41″N 112°28′50″W / 46.32806°N 112.48056°W / 46.32806; -112.48056 (Cottonwood Lake), is located at 7,290 feet (2,220 m) above sea level.
• Forest Lake, 46°27′06″N 112°10′00″W / 46.45167°N 112.16667°W / 46.45167; -112.16667 (Forest Lake), has an elevation of 6,256 feet (1,907 m).
• Frog Pond, 46°17′01″N 112°21′03″W / 46.28361°N 112.35083°W / 46.28361; -112.35083 (Frog Pond), is a smaller body of water at 6,020 feet (1,830 m).
• Glenwood Lake, 46°17′56″N 111°53′23″W / 46.29889°N 111.88972°W / 46.29889; -111.88972 (Glenwood Lake), is quite high up at 8,199 feet (2,499 m).
• Hidden Lake, 46°18′32″N 111°54′28″W / 46.30889°N 111.90778°W / 46.30889; -111.90778 (Hidden Lake), is close to Glenwood Lake at 8,192 feet (2,497 m).
• Homestake Lake, 45°55′11″N 112°24′25″W / 45.91972°N 112.40694°W / 45.91972; -112.40694 (Homestake Lake), is found at 6,270 feet (1,910 m).
• Ice Pond, 46°09′41″N 112°22′35″W / 46.16139°N 112.37639°W / 46.16139; -112.37639 (Ice Pond), has an elevation of 6,234 feet (1,900 m).
• Leslie Lake, 46°17′06″N 111°53′04″W / 46.28500°N 111.88444°W / 46.28500; -111.88444 (Leslie Lake), is another high-elevation lake at 8,127 feet (2,477 m).
• Quartz Lake, 46°25′13″N 112°10′11″W / 46.42028°N 112.16972°W / 46.42028; -112.16972 (Quartz Lake), is at 6,345 feet (1,934 m).
• South Fork Lakes, 46°16′49″N 111°49′37″W / 46.28028°N 111.82694°W / 46.28028; -111.82694 (South Fork Lakes), are a group of lakes at 6,673 feet (2,034 m).
• Tizer Lakes, 46°18′42″N 111°53′22″W / 46.31167°N 111.88944°W / 46.31167; -111.88944 (Tizer Lakes), are located at 7,585 feet (2,312 m).

Exploring Jefferson County's Reservoirs

Unlike natural lakes, reservoirs are created by people. They are built for specific purposes that help communities. For example, many reservoirs store water that is used for drinking water in towns and cities. They can also provide water for irrigation, which helps farmers grow crops. Some reservoirs are used to generate hydroelectric power, which is electricity made from the force of moving water. They also often become popular spots for recreation like fishing, boating, and swimming.

Man-Made Reservoirs in Jefferson County

Here are some of the important reservoirs in Jefferson County, Montana:

• B and B Fishpond, 46°04′20″N 112°25′05″W / 46.07222°N 112.41806°W / 46.07222; -112.41806 (B and B Fishpond), is at an elevation of 6,319 feet (1,926 m).
• Columbia Gardens Water Supply, 46°02′41″N 112°25′17″W / 46.04472°N 112.42139°W / 46.04472; -112.42139 (Columbia Gardens Water Supply), provides water and is at 6,398 feet (1,950 m).
• Delmoe Lake, 45°59′06″N 112°20′30″W / 45.98500°N 112.34167°W / 45.98500; -112.34167 (Delmoe Lake), is a well-known reservoir at 6,099 feet (1,859 m).
• Keogh Reservoir, 46°04′35″N 112°07′28″W / 46.07639°N 112.12444°W / 46.07639; -112.12444 (Keogh Reservoir), is one of the lower elevation reservoirs at 5,023 feet (1,531 m).
• Maney Lake, 46°09′13″N 112°27′47″W / 46.15361°N 112.46306°W / 46.15361; -112.46306 (Maney Lake), is at 6,332 feet (1,930 m).
• Northern Pacific Reservoir, 46°33′13″N 111°54′21″W / 46.55361°N 111.90583°W / 46.55361; -111.90583 (Northern Pacific Reservoir), is at 4,052 feet (1,235 m).
• Northern Pacific Reservoir, 46°33′06″N 111°54′03″W / 46.55167°N 111.90083°W / 46.55167; -111.90083 (Northern Pacific Reservoir), another one with the same name, is at 4,032 feet (1,229 m).
• Park Lake, 46°26′41″N 112°10′24″W / 46.44472°N 112.17333°W / 46.44472; -112.17333 (Park Lake), is at 6,371 feet (1,942 m).
• Taylor Reservoir, 46°12′56″N 112°07′07″W / 46.21556°N 112.11861°W / 46.21556; -112.11861 (Taylor Reservoir), is at 4,954 feet (1,510 m).
• Whitetail Reservoir, 46°04′22″N 112°15′43″W / 46.07278°N 112.26194°W / 46.07278; -112.26194 (Whitetail Reservoir), is at a higher elevation of 7,260 feet (2,210 m).

See also

• List of lakes in Montana