Oreamnus Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oreamnus Lake |
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 Oreamnus Lake
Location in Idaho
Oreamnus Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Boise County, Idaho |
| Coordinates | 44°03′14″N 115°04′08″W / 44.053842°N 115.069019°W |
| Type | Glacial |
| Primary inflows | Goat Creek |
| Primary outflows | Goat Creek to South Fork Payette River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 0.18 mi (0.29 km) |
| Max. width | 0.12 mi (0.19 km) |
| Surface elevation | 8,175 ft (2,492 m) |
Oreamnus Lake is a beautiful, small lake located high up in the Sawtooth Mountains in Boise County, Idaho. It's part of the amazing Sawtooth National Recreation Area in the United States. This special lake is known as an alpine lake, which means it's found in the mountains, often surrounded by tall peaks.
Exploring Oreamnus Lake
Oreamnus Lake is a type of lake called a glacial lake. This means it was formed a very long time ago by giant sheets of ice called glaciers. As these glaciers moved, they carved out the land, leaving behind the basin that filled with water to become the lake we see today.
The lake is quite small. It is about 0.18 mi (0.29 km) long and 0.12 mi (0.19 km) wide. It sits at a high elevation of 8,175 ft (2,492 m) above sea level. Imagine how cool it would be to see a lake so high up in the mountains!
A True Wilderness Experience
Oreamnus Lake is located deep inside the Sawtooth Wilderness. A wilderness area is a protected place where nature is kept as wild and untouched as possible. Because of this, there are no official trails that lead directly to Oreamnus Lake or the Goat Creek area around it. This makes visiting the lake a real adventure for experienced hikers!
To help protect this special environment, visitors need to get a wilderness permit. You can usually find these permits at registration boxes located at the start of hiking trails or at the edges of the wilderness area. Getting a permit helps park rangers keep track of visitors and make sure everyone is following the rules to keep the wilderness healthy.
Water Flow and Nearby Lakes
Goat Creek is an important stream for Oreamnus Lake. It flows into the lake, bringing fresh water, and then it flows out of the lake. After leaving Oreamnus Lake, Goat Creek eventually joins the South Fork Payette River. This river is a big part of Idaho's natural water system.
Oreamnus Lake isn't the only lake in this beautiful area. There are other lakes located upstream from Oreamnus Lake. These include Three Lake, Limber Lake, and Packrat Lake. They are all part of the same amazing mountain landscape.
