Silver Lake (Milford, Delaware) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Silver Lake |
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 Silver Lake
Location in Delaware
Silver Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Kent County, Delaware Sussex County, Delaware |
| Coordinates | 38°54′42″N 75°26′11″W / 38.91167°N 75.43633°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Surface elevation | 7 feet (2.1 m) |
Silver Lake is a special body of water located in Milford, Delaware. It's not a huge lake, but more like a large pond. What makes Silver Lake interesting is that it's a privately owned place. This means it belongs to someone, not the public.
One unique thing about Silver Lake is its water. It's called brackish water. This means the water is a mix of fresh water and salt water. It's not as salty as the ocean, but saltier than a regular freshwater pond.
Discovering Silver Lake
Silver Lake is found right where the Mispillion River begins. This starting point of a river is called its headwaters. Imagine a tiny stream that grows bigger and bigger to become a river; Silver Lake is near where that journey starts!
Silver Lake's Neighbors
Silver Lake has a neighbor called Haven Lake. These two bodies of water are very close to each other. A main road, U.S. Route 113, even runs right between them. This road crosses over the Mispillion River, connecting the areas around both lakes.
How Silver Lake Was Formed
Silver Lake wasn't always there. It was created a long time ago, in the late 1700s. People built a special wall across the Mispillion River. This wall is called a milldam.
- A milldam is like a small dam that holds back water.
- It creates a pond or lake, which then provides power for a mill.
- A mill is a building where people used to grind grain into flour or do other work using water power.
The milldam helped form Silver Lake by holding back the river's water. The original mill was replaced with a new one in the 1800s. So, Silver Lake is actually a man-made pond, created to help power a mill many years ago!
