Maple Lake (Polk County) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Maple Lake |
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 Maple Lake
Location in Minnesota
Maple Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Polk County, Minnesota |
| Coordinates | 47°39′31″N 96°09′28″W / 47.6587°N 96.1578°W |
| Type | artificial |
| Basin countries | United States |
Maple Lake is a beautiful lake located in central Polk County, Minnesota, in the United States. It's about 2 miles (3.2 km) south of a town called Mentor. You can also find it about 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Erskine.
The lake gets its name from the many sugar maple trees that grow all around it. These large hardwood forests were special because most of the area nearby was open prairie (grassland) without many trees. This made Maple Lake a well-known spot on maps even a long time ago.
Maple Lake is a natural lake. It's the most western important lake in the Red River Valley of Northwestern Minnesota. People started building summer homes and resorts here as early as 1910. It became a popular vacation spot.
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Maple Lake's History and Changes
Maple Lake has an interesting history, especially how its water level changed over time.
The Lake Nearly Disappears
In the 1930s, there was a big drought. This meant very little rain fell, and the lake didn't get much new water. Because of this, Maple Lake almost completely dried up. It was a tough time for the lake and the people who loved it.
Bringing the Lake Back to Life
Starting in 1940, a special government program helped save Maple Lake. This program was called the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was created to give people jobs during a difficult economic time.
The WPA project had two main parts:
- They moved water from nearby Badger Lake.
- They also brought water from the Poplar River.
This project helped raise the lake to its current water level. Today, the lake's water level is carefully maintained.
A Popular Spot Again
Bringing the water back made the lake popular again. The resorts and summer homes thrived once more. Today, Maple Lake is still a favorite place for:
- Summer homes
- Fun watersports
- Fishing
Many people from eastern North Dakota, northwestern Minnesota, and other nearby states come to enjoy Maple Lake.
