Mountain Island Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mountain Island Lake |
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Home of The True Brothers
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 Mountain Island Lake
Location in North Carolina
Mountain Island Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Charlotte, North Carolina / Mecklenburg counties, North Carolina, United States |
| Coordinates | 35°21′50″N 80°56′22″W / 35.3639°N 80.9394°W |
| Primary inflows | Catawba River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 3,281 acres (13 km2) |
| Shore length1 | 61 miles (98 km) |
| Surface elevation | 647.5 feet (197 m) |
| Islands | Mountain Island |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Mountain Island Lake is a beautiful lake located northwest of Charlotte, North Carolina. It was created in 1924 when a dam was built for the Mountain Island Hydroelectric Station. The lake gets its name from a mountain that looks like an island in the water.
The lake follows the winding path of the Catawba River, which was dammed near the Mount Holly Wastewater Plant. Mountain Island Lake has a surface area of about 3,281 acres (13.28 km²) and a shoreline of about 61 miles (98 km).
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Your Drinking Water and Fun Activities
Mountain Island Lake is fed by the Catawba River. It is the smallest of the three large man-made lakes that border Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. The other two are Lake Norman and Lake Wylie.
A company called Duke Energy, based in Charlotte, helps manage Mountain Island Lake. The most important job of Mountain Island Lake is to provide clean drinking water for over 1 million people! This includes residents of Charlotte and the surrounding Mecklenburg County, as well as Mount Holly and Gastonia in Gaston County.
Besides providing water, the lake is also a great place for fun activities. You can go boating and fishing here! There are two special areas where you can launch your boat. There's also a fishing platform for people who like to fish from the bank. These areas are set up with help from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
How the Lake Helps Make Electricity
Mountain Island Lake plays an important role in making hydro-electric power for the nearby areas. This type of power uses the movement of water to create electricity.
Mountain Island Hydro Station
The Mountain Island Hydro Station is a power plant that has four units. It can produce 60 megawatts of electricity and is located in Gaston County, North Carolina. It was built in 1923 to help meet the growing need for electricity, especially for homes in the Carolinas. Back then, most electricity was used by big factories.
Riverbend Steam Station (Past Role)
The Riverbend Steam Station was another power plant that used to be located on the lake. It was a coal-fired facility that started operating in 1929. The station was named Riverbend because it was built on a bend in the Catawba River.
Riverbend was used to help provide extra electricity when people needed it most. It also had gas-fired units. The station was closed down in 2013, and its main buildings were taken down in 2018.
Keeping the Lake Water Clean
It's super important to keep Mountain Island Lake's water clean because so many people drink from it. Sometimes, older coal ash ponds (places where waste from burning coal was stored) didn't have special linings. This could cause some substances, like certain metals, to get into the nearby groundwater.
The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources works with companies like Duke Energy to make sure the water stays safe. They have plans to clean up these areas and protect the water quality of the lake's ecosystem. This helps keep the lake healthy for everyone and for the animals that live there.
Fun Places to Visit Around the Lake
Mountain Island Lake is surrounded by several interesting places to explore!
Mountain Island
Inside Mountain Island Lake, there's a large island called Mountain Island. It's a big landmark in the area.
Carolina Raptor Center
The Carolina Raptor Center is a special place dedicated to protecting birds of prey, like eagles, hawks, and owls. They teach people about these amazing birds, do research, and help injured or orphaned raptors get better. You can walk a 3/4-mile nature trail inside the Latta Plantation Nature Preserve and see over 23 different kinds of raptors!
Historic Latta Plantation
The Historic Latta Plantation is a fascinating museum that was once a large farm. It was built around 1800 by James Latta, who came from Northern Ireland. He was a successful merchant before turning his property into a cotton plantation.
Today, the Latta Plantation is a museum where you can learn about its history and how people lived long ago. It's a great place to step back in time!
