Mittry Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mittry Lake |
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 Mittry Lake
Location in Arizona
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| Location | Yuma County, Arizona |
| Coordinates | 32°49′38″N 114°27′14″W / 32.82722°N 114.45389°W |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 750 acres (300 ha) |
| Average depth | 8 ft (2.4 m) |
| Surface elevation | 185 ft (56 m) |
Mittry Lake is a cool spot in the Mittry Lake Wildlife Area. It's located just north of Yuma, Arizona. This lake is part of the Lower Colorado River. It sits between two large dams: Imperial Dam upstream and Laguna Dam downstream.
Mittry Lake covers about 750 acres (300 hectares). Much of its shoreline is covered with tall plants like cattails and bullrush. The lake has been improved over time. This work included cleaning out marsh areas and planting new plants. They also made the fish habitat better. These efforts make Mittry Lake a great place for outdoor fun. You can enjoy small game hunting and sport fishing here. It is public land. Different government groups manage it for everyone to use. These groups include the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Bureau of Land Management.
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The Old Town of La Laguna
A Mining Town Under the Lake
Before Mittry Lake was here, there was a small mining town called La Laguna. This town existed for only a short time, from 1860 to 1862. La Laguna had a few stores and a ferry boat. The ferry helped miners cross the Colorado River. These miners were looking for gold nearby.
However, a new gold rush started in a place called La Paz. When this happened, everyone left La Laguna. The town was abandoned. Today, the old site of La Laguna is hidden beneath the waters of Mittry Lake. It's like a secret piece of history under the water!
Fish and Other Animals at Mittry Lake
What Fish Live Here?
Mittry Lake is home to many different kinds of fish. This makes it a popular spot for fishing. Here are some of the fish you might find:
- Largemouth Bass
- Crappie
- Bullhead catfish
- Catfish (Channel)
- Catfish (Flathead)
- Tilapia
- Redear Sunfish
- Green Sunfish
- Bluegill Sunfish
- Carp
Other Lake Creatures
Besides fish, you might also spot Bullfrogs around the lake. They are part of the lively ecosystem at Mittry Lake. The lake's healthy environment supports all these different species.
