Showboat Branson Belle facts for kids
Showboat Branson Belle on Table Rock Lake in 2012
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Quick facts for kids History |
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| Owner | Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation |
| Launched | August 12, 1994 |
| Christened | April 13, 1995 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Riverboat/showboat |
| Tonnage | 1250 tons |
| Length | 278 ft (85 m) |
| Beam | 78 ft (24 m) |
| Height | 112 ft (34 m) (to top of stacks) |
| Draught | 7 ft (2.1 m) |
| Installed power | 2 Detroit Diesel 16V92 (original) 3 Caterpillar C32 (repower) |
| Propulsion | 2 twin electric driven rear paddle wheels, 16 ft (4.9 m) wide, 24 ft (7.3 m) in diameter |
| Speed | 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) |
| Capacity | 700 passengers |
The Showboat Branson Belle is a special kind of boat called a showboat. It sails on Table Rock Lake near Branson, Missouri. This lake is "landlocked," meaning it's completely surrounded by land. It has dams on both sides, like the Table Rock Dam. The Showboat Branson Belle is famous for hosting fun lunch and dinner shows all year long.
Building and Launching the Showboat
The Showboat Branson Belle was built right at its home port, called White River Landing. It was finished and launched into Table Rock Lake on August 12, 1994.
A Slippery Launch with Bananas
When the boat was launched, it slid into the water at a speed of about 14 knots (which is like 16 miles per hour!). To help it slide, workers used two tons of bananas as a lubricant on the launching rails. This might sound strange, but bananas were a great choice! They are biodegradable, which means they break down naturally and don't pollute the lake. Regular grease would have harmed the water. The owners say the Showboat Branson Belle is the biggest ship on any landlocked lake in the United States.
Images for kids
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The Showboat Branson Belle, stuck at Poverty Point, Table Rock Lake, December 12, 2010
