Summit Lake (Paxson, Alaska) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Summit Lake |
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A summer view across Summit Lake
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 Summit Lake
Location in Alaska
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| Location | Paxson, Alaska United States |
| Coordinates | 63°8′20″N 145°33′00″W / 63.13889°N 145.55000°W |
| Type | Natural lake |
| Part of | Copper River Basin |
| Primary inflows | Gunn Greek |
| Primary outflows | Gulkana River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 7.1 miles (11.4 km) |
| Max. width | 1.1 miles (1.8 km) |
| Surface area | 6.38 miles (10.27 km) |
| Average depth | 70 feet (21 m) |
| Max. depth | 214 feet (65 m) |
| Water volume | 1,083,344 cubic yards (828,276 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 3,300 feet (1,000 m) |
| Frozen | From early November to mid-June |
| Islands | 1 |
Summit Lake is a beautiful lake located in Alaska, United States. It sits high up in the Alaska Range, a large mountain chain. The lake is found between miles 192 and 196 of the Richardson Highway. This highway is also known as AR-4.
The lake is about 200 miles (320 km) north of Valdez. It is also about 180 miles (290 km) south of Fairbanks. Summit Lake is just south of Isabel Pass. It is very high up, at an elevation of 3,300 feet (1,000 meters). The lake is also part of Paxson, a small community. It is about 15 miles (24 km) north of Paxson Lake.
Contents
About Summit Lake
Summit Lake is above the tree line. This means it is too high and cold for trees to grow. The lake gets its water from glaciers. Several creeks flow into the lake from the north. One important creek is Gunn Creek. It flows from the Gulkana Glacier. Other creeks also feed the lake from the west and southeast.
The lake is quite deep, reaching up to 300 feet (91 meters). It freezes over every year. From November until mid-June, the ice can be as thick as 5 feet (1.5 meters). Summit Lake is also the start of the Gulkana River. This river is a main branch of the Copper River.
Lake Size and Features
Summit Lake is about 7.1 miles (11.4 km) long. It is also about 1.1 miles (1.8 km) wide. The total surface area of the lake is 6.28 square miles (16.3 square kilometers). These measurements show it is a large and important natural lake in the region.
Fish and Wildlife
The Gulkana River is famous for its "Copper River Reds" salmon. These salmon are a type of fish that swim upstream to lay their eggs. In late September, they travel to Gunn Creek. This creek is at the north end of Summit Lake. They lay their eggs there, completing their life cycle.
Fun Events at Summit Lake
The area around Summit Lake is well-known for a special event. It hosts the annual Arctic Man Summit Lake Classic. This is a big ski and snow-machine race. Up to 13,000 visitors come to watch it every April. The event happens if the weather is good. It is a very exciting time for the community.
Images for kids
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Shoreline of Summit Lake, just off the Richardson Highway
