kids encyclopedia robot

Lower Granite Lake facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Lower Granite Lake
Telephoto of Snake River in Lewiston and Clarkston from U.S. Route 95 viewpoint (2015).jpg
A view of Lower Granite Lake/Snake River from Lewiston Hill. The city of Lewiston, Idaho is on the left with Clarkston, Washington on the right. The Interstate Highway Bridge is in the foreground and the Southway Bridge in the center of the photograph.
Snake River Bridge between Lewiston and Clarkston (2010)
The Lower Granite Lake was created in 1975. Since the Interstate Highway Bridge between Lewiston, Idaho and Clarkston, Washington was high enough, the new lake did not overwhelm the bridge.

Lower Granite Lake is a reservoir created by Lower Granite Dam. The dam is a concrete gravity run-of-the-river dam in the northwest United States. On the lower Snake River in southeastern Washington, it bridges Whitman and Garfield counties. Opened 49 years ago in 1975, the dam is located 22 miles (35 km) south of Colfax and 35 miles (56 km) north of Pomeroy.

Lower Granite Dam is part of the Columbia River Basin system of dams, built and operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers; power generated is distributed by the Bonneville Power Administration.

Behind the dam, Lower Granite Lake extends 39 miles (63 km) east to Lewiston, Idaho and Clarkston, Washington, and allowed the Lewiston–Clarkston metropolitan area to become a port. The first barge to Portland on the 374-mile (602 km) navigation route was loaded with wheat and departed Lewiston on August 9, 1975.'

Bridges

  • Southway Bridge - crosses between Lewiston, Idaho and Clarkston, Washington
  • Interstate Highway Bridge - also crosses between Lewiston and Clarkston, carrying U.S. Route 12 between the cities

Photos

Lewiston and Clarkston
Another photo of the lake from Lewiston Hill, which shows the Clearwater River to the left (in Idaho) and the Snake River in the center. Washington state is to the right.
kids search engine
Lower Granite Lake Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.