Mystic Lake (California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mystic Lake |
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 Mystic Lake
Location in California
Mystic Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Riverside County, California |
| Coordinates | 33°52′45″N 117°05′01″W / 33.87917°N 117.08361°W |
| Type | Seasonal |
| Primary inflows | San Jacinto River |
| Primary outflows | San Jacinto River |
| Basin countries | United States |
Mystic Lake is a special lake in Riverside County, California. It's called a seasonal lake because its size changes a lot. Sometimes it's big and full of water, and other times it can shrink or even dry up completely. This happens because it depends on the San Jacinto River for its water.
The area around Mystic Lake is super popular with birds! Over 200 different kinds of birds have been seen here. This makes it one of the best places in the United States to go bird-watching.
You can find Mystic Lake in the San Jacinto Valley. It's located east of Lake Perris and the town of Lakeview. The town of Lakeview actually got its name because it's so close to Mystic Lake!
How Mystic Lake Changes Size
Mystic Lake gets most of its water from the San Jacinto River. This usually happens in late winter and spring when the river flows strongly. In recent years, the lake has become much smaller. It used to cover thousands of acres, but now it's sometimes less than 200 acres (0.81 km2).
If there isn't enough rain, the lake can dry up completely. When this happens, it's called an ephemeral lake. But don't worry, this is part of a natural cycle. The lake has been growing and shrinking for thousands of years. As of April 2019, it was very full of water and wildlife again!
Scientists believe the lake could get even bigger in the future. This is because the land around it is slowly sinking. This creates more space for the lake to expand when there's enough water.
The Historic Anza Trail
The Anza Trail passes right by Mystic Lake. This trail follows the path of an explorer named Juan Bautista de Anza. In 1774, he saw the lake and described it as "several leagues in circumference and as full of white geese as water."
Anza named the lake Laguna de Bucareli. He named it after Antonio María de Bucareli y Ursúa, who was an important leader in New Spain (which is now Mexico). Much later, people started calling it Mystic Lake.
San Jacinto Wildlife Area
Right next to Mystic Lake is the San Jacinto Wildlife Area. This huge area is about 9,000 acres! It's managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and is open for everyone to visit.
The wildlife area has special wetlands and wildlife habitat that have been restored. This means they've been brought back to a healthy state for animals. The Department of Fish and Wildlife hopes to add Mystic Lake to this wildlife area someday. It's a fantastic spot for both bird-watchers and hunters.
