Possum Kingdom Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Possum Kingdom Lake |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 Possum Kingdom Lake
Location in Texas
Possum Kingdom Lake
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Palo Pinto / Stephens / Young counties, Texas |
| Coordinates | 32°52.00′N 98°26.00′W / 32.86667°N 98.43333°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Brazos River |
| Primary outflows | Brazos River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 19,800 acres (8,000 ha) |
| Max. depth | 100 ft (30 m) |
| Water volume | 724,700 acre⋅ft (893,900 ML) |
| Shore length1 | 310 miles (500 km) |
| Surface elevation | 998 ft (304 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Possum Kingdom Lake, often called P.K., is a large lake in Texas. It was the first lake built to supply water in the Brazos River area. This lake covers about 17,000 acres (6,880 hectares). It has a long shoreline of 310 miles (500 km). The lake holds a huge amount of water, with 550,000 acre-feet (678 million cubic meters) available for people to use.
Contents
Building Possum Kingdom Lake
Possum Kingdom Lake was created by building the Morris Sheppard Dam. This big project was started in 1936 and finished in 1941. It was built by the Brazos River Authority and the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was a government program that helped people find jobs during tough economic times.
The dam is very long, stretching 2,700 feet (823 meters). It is also 190 feet (58 meters) high. The dam has a special design with strong arched sections on each side of its nine spillway gates. These gates help control the water flow. The dam was named after Morris Sheppard, who was a U.S. Senator from Texas. He helped get the money needed to build the lake.
The lake is in a special spot where the Brazos River flows through the Palo Pinto Hills. The river carved out a deep canyon here. This canyon was a perfect place to build the dam and create a deep lake. The lake's depth also helps keep its water very clear.
How Possum Kingdom Got Its Name
There are a few stories about how "Possum Kingdom" became the name for this area. The most popular story is about a man named Ike Sablosky. He moved to the region in the early 1900s. Ike was a businessman who came to America from Russia when he was 13.
He arrived in Mineral Wells, Texas in 1905 because he was very sick. Mineral Wells was famous for its health spas and special mineral water. Ike drank the mineral water and said it cured his stomach problems in just ten days!
After getting better, Ike started a business buying and selling animal furs and hides. He bought many possum pelts from hunters in the Brazos River canyon. When these hunters came to see him, Ike would say, "Here are the boys from the Possum Kingdom!" This is how the name stuck. Ike Sablosky later became a successful businessman in Dallas and gave a lot of money to charity.
Fun Things to See and Do
Possum Kingdom Lake is known for a famous spot called 
. This is a dramatic break in the tall cliffs around the lake. It's a popular place for boating and enjoying the views.
The lake was also the inspiration for a popular song from the 1990s. The band The Toadies released a song titled "Possum Kingdom."
You can also visit Possum Kingdom State Park at the lake. This park covers 1,530 acres (619 hectares). It is managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The park offers many outdoor activities like camping, fishing, and hiking.
Wildfires at Possum Kingdom Lake
The Possum Kingdom Lake area has faced challenges with wildfires. In 2011, during a very dry period, there were two major fires. The first fire in April destroyed 160 homes. Another fire later that year, in August and September, caused more damage. It burned 39 homes and 9 recreational vehicles. The second fire started from an electrical spark.
In August 2012, more wildfires broke out near the lake. These fires were likely caused by lightning strikes during another very dry time. The Governor of Texas sent military forces to help fight these fires. Large Chinook helicopters were used to drop water on the flames. Firefighters worked day and night to get the fires under control.
