Punished Woman Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Punished Woman Lake |
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 Punished Woman Lake
Location in South Dakota
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| Location | Codington County, South Dakota |
| Coordinates | 45°06′40.2″N 96°56′14.2″W / 45.111167°N 96.937278°W |
| Type | glacial lake |
| Surface area | 477 acres (193 ha) |
| Average depth | 12 feet (3.7 m) |
| Shore length1 | 4.5 miles (7.2 km) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Punished Woman Lake is a natural lake found in the northeastern part of South Dakota. It is located in Codington County, right next to the town of South Shore. This lake was formed by glaciers long ago.
The lake covers an area of about 477 acres (193 ha), which is like 360 football fields! It has a shoreline of about 4.5 miles (7.2 km). The water in the lake is usually around 12 feet (3.7 m) deep.
Lake Life: Fish and Wildlife
Punished Woman Lake is an important place for fish. The South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks (SDGFP) agency takes care of the lake. They manage it as a good spot for catching fish like northern pike and yellow perch.
Other types of fish also live in the lake, including:
Sometimes, when the weather gets very hot in summer or very cold in winter, the lake's shallow waters can cause problems for the fish. This can lead to many fish dying. When this happens, the SDGFP helps by adding more fish, especially northern pike and yellow perch, to keep the lake healthy.
The Legend Behind the Name
Punished Woman Lake gets its unique name from an old Sioux Native American legend. The story tells of a young woman who fell in love with someone her father did not approve of. Her father wanted her to marry a powerful clan chief instead.
The young woman and her chosen lover ran away together. But they were eventually brought back to the tribe's camp, which was located by the lake's shore. The chief, who was very angry, confronted the young woman and her lover. The legend says that the chief punished them both severely for defying his wishes.
