Morris Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Morris Reservoir |
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 Morris Reservoir
Location in California
Morris Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County, California |
| Coordinates | 34°10′27″N 117°52′49″W / 34.17417°N 117.88028°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary outflows | San Gabriel River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface elevation | 1,145 ft (349 m) |
Morris Reservoir is a large artificial lake located in the San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles County, California. It is part of the Angeles National Forest.
This reservoir was created by building the Morris Dam. The dam was finished in 1935. Morris Dam is a type of dam called a gravity dam. It stands 245 feet (75 m) tall above the San Gabriel River where it was built.
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Where is Morris Reservoir?
The reservoir is found next to California State Route 39. It is about 5 miles (8.0 km) north of the city of Azusa. Morris Reservoir is located just downstream from another dam called the San Gabriel Dam. When the reservoir is completely full, the average water level is about 1,100 feet (340 m) high.
For many years, the Morris Reservoir and the hills around it were used as a secret testing area. This place was called the Morris Reservoir Naval Weapons Test Site. It was used by the United States Navy from World War II until the 1990s.
Why was it a test site?
The test site was set up by Caltech. Caltech is a famous university that helped the Navy develop new weapons. Their main testing place was the Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS) in China Lake. China Lake is in the Mojave Desert and is very dry.
Because China Lake was so far away and dry, Caltech needed another place to test weapons that involved water. So, they opened this special site at Morris Reservoir. It was much closer to their campus.
What was tested there?
This site was very important for developing weapons used by submarines. This included things like torpedoes and bombs that could be dropped from planes or ships. They also tested submarine-launched missiles, like the Polaris rocket. The Polaris was the first ballistic missile that could be launched from submarines while they were underwater.
What happened to the test site?
In 1995, the Morris Reservoir test site was given to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. Most of the old buildings from the test site have been taken down. The area is now being returned to its natural state. In the future, it might be open for people to visit again.
Images for kids
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A view of Morris Reservoir.
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A camera launcher used at the Morris Reservoir Naval Weapons Test Site.
