Shenango River Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shenango River Lake |
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Dawn at Shenango River Lake, January 2014
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 Shenango River Lake
Location in Ohio
Shenango River Lake
Location in Pennsylvania
Shenango River Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Mercer County, Pennsylvania / Trumbull County, Ohio, US |
| Coordinates | 41°15′55″N 80°27′41″W / 41.26528°N 80.46139°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Shenango River |
| Primary outflows | Shenango River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 3,560 acres (1,440 ha) |
Shenango River Lake is a large man-made lake. It is located in western Pennsylvania and northeastern Ohio. This lake was created to help control floods. It is a very popular place for fishing and camping. The lake offers 330 campsites for visitors.
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Shenango River Lake: A Big Lake for Fun and Flood Control
What is Shenango River Lake?
Shenango River Lake is a special kind of lake called a reservoir. A reservoir is a large lake built by people to store water. This water can be used for many things. It helps prevent floods and provides a place for fun activities.
The lake is part of the Shenango River Valley. It was approved by a law called the Flood Control Act of 1938. This law helped create many projects to stop floods. Shenango River Lake is one of 16 such projects. These projects are managed by the Pittsburgh District. Their main goal is to protect communities from flooding.
Building the Shenango Dam
The Shenango Dam is a strong concrete wall. It was finished in 1965. The dam is 68 feet tall and 720 feet long. It was built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. This group builds and manages many water projects in the country.
How the Dam Helps
The dam helps control the amount of water in the lake. It can hold a lot of water, up to 351,000 acre-feet. An acre-foot is the amount of water needed to cover one acre of land with water one foot deep. Normally, the lake holds about 29,920 acre-feet of water. When there is a lot of rain, the dam can store extra water. This stops rivers from overflowing and causing floods in towns nearby.
Fun Things to Do at the Lake
Shenango River Lake is a great place for outdoor fun. Many people come here to go fishing. People who fish are called anglers. They enjoy catching different kinds of fish in the lake. The lake also has many campsites. Families and friends can stay overnight and enjoy nature. It's a perfect spot for a weekend getaway.
