Sapphire Lake (Idaho) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sapphire Lake |
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Sapphire Lake (right) and Cove Lake (left) from Calkens Peak
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 Sapphire Lake
Location in Idaho
Sapphire Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Custer County, Idaho |
| Coordinates | 44°06′11″N 114°36′54″W / 44.102962°N 114.614970°W |
| Type | Glacial |
| Primary outflows | Big Boulder Creek to East Fork Salmon River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 500 m (1,600 ft) |
| Max. width | 300 m (980 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 3,020 m (9,910 ft) |
Sapphire Lake is a beautiful lake found high up in the White Cloud Mountains in Idaho, United States. It's part of a special outdoor area called the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. Imagine a sparkling blue lake nestled among tall mountains – that's Sapphire Lake!
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Discovering Sapphire Lake
Sapphire Lake is a type of lake known as an alpine lake. This means it's located very high up in the mountains. It gets its name from its clear, deep blue water, which looks like a precious sapphire gem.
Where is Sapphire Lake?
Sapphire Lake is located in Custer County, Idaho. It sits in a place called the Big Boulder Lakes Basin. This basin is home to several other cool lakes too, like Cove, Hook, and Cirque Lakes. The lake is found just east of a mountain peak called D. O. Lee Peak.
Getting to Sapphire Lake
There aren't any official trails that lead directly to Sapphire Lake. This makes it a bit of a hidden gem! However, people who love to explore can usually reach it by following Sawtooth National Forest trail 601. It's a journey for adventurers who enjoy hiking in the wilderness.
How Sapphire Lake Was Formed
Sapphire Lake is a glacial lake. This means it was formed a very long time ago by huge sheets of ice called glaciers. As these glaciers moved slowly across the land, they carved out deep hollows in the mountains. When the glaciers melted, these hollows filled with water, creating lakes like Sapphire Lake.
