Robinson Lake (Nevada) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Robinson Lake |
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 Robinson Lake
Location in Nevada
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| Location | Ruby Mountains, Elko County, Nevada |
| Coordinates | 40°43′48″N 115°16′48″W / 40.73000°N 115.28000°W |
| Type | tarn |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 17 acres (6.9 ha) |
| Max. depth | 5 ft (1.5 m) |
| Surface elevation | 9,100 ft (2,800 m) |
Robinson Lake is a beautiful lake located high up in the Ruby Mountains of Nevada. It's in a part of the state called Elko County. This lake is special because it's a type of lake called a glacial tarn. This means it was formed by a glacier (a huge sheet of ice) that carved out a bowl in the mountains long, long ago.
Robinson Lake is found south of an area known as Soldier Basin. It sits at a high elevation of about 9,100 feet (which is about 2,775 meters) above sea level. The lake covers an area of about 17 acres (or 7 hectares). It's not very deep, reaching a maximum depth of about 5 feet (or 2 meters).
The water from Robinson Lake flows into a stream called Robinson Creek. This creek then drops down steeply into the Ruby Valley to the east. Both the lake and the creek were named after an early family who settled in the Ruby Valley area.
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Where is Robinson Lake?
Robinson Lake is located in the northeastern part of Nevada. It's part of the stunning Ruby Mountains, which are known for their rugged beauty and clear mountain lakes.
How High Up Is It?
The lake sits at a very high elevation. Imagine being 9,100 feet (about 2,775 meters) above sea level! This high location means the lake is surrounded by mountain peaks and often has cooler temperatures.
How Big Is the Lake?
Robinson Lake is about 17 acres (7 hectares) in size. To give you an idea, an acre is roughly the size of a football field without the end zones. So, it's like 17 football fields of water! It's also quite shallow, only about 5 feet (2 meters) deep at its deepest point.
How Was Robinson Lake Formed?
Robinson Lake is a glacial tarn. This means it was created by the powerful forces of glaciers.
What is a Glacier?
A glacier is like a giant, slow-moving river of ice. Thousands of years ago, during the Ice Ages, huge glaciers moved through the Ruby Mountains. As they moved, they scraped and carved out the land, creating deep hollows and valleys.
How Glaciers Made the Lake
When a glacier moved through the area where Robinson Lake is now, it dug out a bowl-shaped depression in the rock. As the climate warmed and the glacier melted, this bowl filled with water, forming the lake we see today.
Robinson Creek and Ruby Valley
Robinson Lake is important because it's the starting point for Robinson Creek.
The Journey of Robinson Creek
The water from Robinson Lake flows out and forms Robinson Creek. This creek then travels downhill, dropping quickly into the Ruby Valley. The Ruby Valley is a long, narrow valley located to the east of the Ruby Mountains.
Who Was Robinson Lake Named After?
The lake and the creek both got their names from a family.
Early Settlers of Ruby Valley
Long ago, a family named Robinson were among the first people to settle in the Ruby Valley. It was common for natural features like lakes and creeks to be named after the early settlers who lived near them. This helps us remember the history of the area and the people who first made their homes there.
