Pomme de Terre Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pomme de Terre Lake |
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 Pomme de Terre Lake
Location in Missouri
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| Location | Hickory / Polk counties, Missouri, United States |
| Coordinates | 37°54′06″N 93°19′13″W / 37.90167°N 93.32028°W |
| Type | Flood control reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 7,820 acres (32 km2) multipurpose pool 16,100 acres (65 km2) flood pool |
| Shore length1 | 113 mi (182 km) |
| Surface elevation | 839 ft (256 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Pomme de Terre Lake is a large lake located in southwest Missouri. It gets its name from the French language word for potato, which literally means "earth-apple." The lake was formed where Lindley Creek and the Pomme de Terre River meet.
You can find this lake in southern Hickory and northern Polk counties. It's about 50 miles (80 km) north of the city of Springfield.
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Why Was Pomme de Terre Lake Built?
Pomme de Terre Lake is part of a group of lakes in the Osage River Basin. These lakes were designed and built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Their main purpose is to control floods. This means they help prevent rivers from overflowing and causing damage.
Building the lake started in 1957 and was finished in 1961. It cost about $15 million to build. Water began to fill the lake on October 29, 1961. The lake reached its normal water level (called the multipurpose pool) on June 15, 1963.
The dam that holds back the lake is next to Pomme de Terre State Park. You can even drive across it on Route 254. The dam is 7,230 feet (2,204 m) long. It is 30 feet (9 m) wide at the top and 950 feet (290 m) wide at its widest part at the bottom.
Exploring the Lake's Arms
Pomme de Terre Lake has two main "arms" that stretch out from the dam. One arm follows the Pomme de Terre River and is about 17 miles (27 km) long. The other arm follows Lindley Creek and extends for about 12 miles (19 km). These arms create lots of shoreline for exploring and enjoying the water.
Fun Things to Do at the Lake
Pomme de Terre Lake is a popular spot for outdoor fun! There are more than 650 places to camp around the lake. You can also find two public swimming beaches where you can cool off.
Many people enjoy water sports like water skiing. On the 4th of July each year, the local Chamber of Commerce puts on a fireworks show. The fireworks are launched from an island near the dam, making for a spectacular display over the water.
Amazing Fishing at Pomme de Terre
If you love fishing, Pomme de Terre Lake is a great place to visit. It's well known for its largemouth bass, crappie, and white bass. But it's especially famous for a special type of fish called the muskie.
Muskies have been put into the lake since 1966. The lake is one of the best places in the country to catch them! Muskies don't naturally reproduce in Pomme de Terre. So, each spring, the Conservation Department collects muskie eggs from fish in the lake. After the eggs are ready, the fish are released back into the lake. The eggs are then taken to the Lost Valley Fish Hatchery near Warsaw to hatch. By October, the young muskies are big enough to be released into Pomme de Terre and other lakes in Missouri.
Pomme de Terre State Park Adventures
There are two parts to the state park land near Pomme de Terre Lake, covering almost 700 acres (2.8 km2). The Pittsburg section is on the south side of the lake. The Hermitage section is on the east side.
Both sections of the park offer lots of activities. Each area has 128 campsites, a public beach, and picnic spots. There are also hiking trails for you to explore. The Indian Point hiking trail in the Pittsburg area leads to a rock platform with an amazing view of the lake.
Quick Lake Facts
- Surface area: The lake covers about 7,821 acres at its normal water level. During floods, it can expand to 16,100 acres.
- Shoreline: The lake has about 113 miles (182 km) of shoreline.
- Elevation: The normal water level is about 839 feet (256 m) above sea level.
- Dam: The dam is 7,240 feet (2,207 m) long and made of earth and rocks. It stands 155 feet (47 m) above the streambed.
