Paulina Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Paulina Lake |
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View of Paulina Lake from Paulina Peak
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 Paulina Lake
Location in Oregon
Paulina Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Newberry National Volcanic Monument, Deschutes County, Oregon, United States |
| Coordinates | 43°42′48″N 121°16′29″W / 43.71333°N 121.27472°W |
| Type | Crater lake |
| Primary inflows | Seepage |
| Primary outflows | Paulina Creek |
| Catchment area | 17.1 sq mi (44.3 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 1,531 acres (619.6 ha) |
| Average depth | 163 ft (49.7 m) |
| Max. depth | 250 ft (76.2 m) |
| Water volume | 249,850 acre⋅ft (308,185 dam3) |
| Residence time | 46 years |
| Shore length1 | 6.7 mi (11 km) |
| Surface elevation | 6,331 ft (1,930 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Paulina Lake is a beautiful lake located in central Oregon, United States. It's one of two lakes found inside a huge ancient volcano called Newberry Crater. The other lake is East Lake.
Paulina Lake sits high up, about 6,331 feet (1,930 meters) above sea level, within the Newberry National Volcanic Monument near the town of La Pine. Water flows into the lake from East Lake through underground seepage, melting snow, and hot springs. The water then flows out into Paulina Creek, which is a stream that joins the Little Deschutes River.
The lake covers an area of about 1,531 acres (619 hectares). It holds a lot of water, about 249,850 acre-feet (308 million cubic meters). At its deepest point, Paulina Lake is about 250 feet (76 meters) deep. The shoreline stretches for about 6.7 miles (10.8 kilometers). It takes about 46 years for all the water in the lake to be replaced, which is called its residence time.
Paulina Lake is considered a mesotrophic lake. This means it has a medium amount of nutrients and is quite clear. You can often see about 13.1 feet (4 meters) down into the water. Paulina Lake is about 40 feet (12 meters) lower and one mile west of its twin, East Lake.
The lake is named after Paulina, a leader of the Snake Indian people.
Volcanic History of Paulina Lake
Paulina Lake is located inside the Newberry Crater. This crater was formed over more than 500,000 years of volcanic activity. Imagine a giant volcano that erupted many times, and then its top collapsed, creating a large bowl-shaped area. That's where Paulina Lake now sits!
Fun Activities at Paulina Lake
Paulina Lake is a great place for many outdoor activities. People enjoy:
- Camping
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Kayaking
- Canoeing
- Paddle-boarding
To keep the lake peaceful and good for fishing, there's a speed limit of 10 miles per hour for boats. This means you won't see fast motorized watersports like waterskiing or jet skis here.
Fishing at Paulina Lake
Even though Paulina Lake once had no fish, it is now a very popular spot for fishing. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife regularly adds fish to the lake. It's especially known for its large numbers of kokanee salmon and brown trout. You can also find rainbow trout, tui chub, and blue chub in the lake.
Paulina Lake holds a special record! The largest brown trout ever caught in the State of Oregon was caught here in 2002. It weighed an amazing 28 pounds, 5 ounces! This fish broke previous records that were also set at Paulina Lake. You can find more information about Oregon's fish records on the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife website: [1].
