Okamanpeedan Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Okamanpeedan Lake |
|
|---|---|
| Okamanpadu Lake | |
 Okamanpeedan Lake
Location in Iowa
Okamanpeedan Lake
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Emmet County, Iowa / Martin County, Minnesota, US |
| Coordinates | 43°30′20″N 94°34′30″W / 43.50556°N 94.57500°W |
| Primary inflows | East Fork of the Des Moines River |
| Primary outflows | East Fork of the Des Moines River |
| Catchment area | 120,056 acres (48,585 ha) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 2,300 acres (930 ha) |
| Surface elevation | 1,227 feet (374 m) |
Okamanpeedan Lake, also known as Tuttle Lake, is a beautiful lake located in both Martin County, Minnesota and Emmet County, Iowa, USA. It's a large lake, about 2,300 acres (9.3 square kilometers) big, and is part of the East Fork of the Des Moines River. The water is usually 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 meters) deep.
A large area of land, called a watershed, drains into the lake. This watershed is about 120,056 acres (486 square kilometers). This means the land area feeding the lake is about 50 times bigger than the lake itself! The lake is in a flat area that was formed by glaciers long ago. The soil around it is mostly rich and a bit wet. While the area is mostly flat, there are some gentle hills nearby.
Discovering Okamanpeedan Lake
Okamanpeedan Lake was explored by a person named Joseph Nicollet in 1838. He was on an expedition to map the area. Nicollet learned the name of the lake from the Native American people who lived there. The name "Okamanpeedan" means "nesting place of the herons." This name was perfect because many herons nested in the tall trees along the lake's shores.
Later, the first settler to live near the lake was Calvin Tuttle. Because of him, the lake also became known as Tuttle Lake.
Fun at Okamanpeedan Lake
Okamanpeedan Lake is a great place for outdoor activities!
- The southwest side of the lake is home to the Tuttle Lake Recreation Area. This area has sixty campsites where people can stay overnight. It also has a boat launch, making it easy to get boats onto the water.
- On the southeast side of the lake, you'll find Okamanpeedan State Park. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources takes care of this park. It's another wonderful spot for visitors to enjoy the lake and its surroundings.
Fish in the Lake
Okamanpeedan Lake is home to many different kinds of fish. If you enjoy fishing, you might catch:
- Walleye
- Northern pike
- Crappie
- Yellow perch
- Bullhead
- Catfish
- American Grass carp
