Three Island Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Three Island Lake |
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 Three Island Lake
Location in Idaho
Three Island Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Boise County, Idaho |
| Coordinates | 43°57′02″N 115°03′44″W / 43.950536°N 115.062211°W |
| Type | Glacial |
| Primary outflows | Benedict Creek to South Fork Payette River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 0.22 mi (0.35 km) |
| Max. width | 0.13 mi (0.21 km) |
| Surface elevation | 8,615 ft (2,626 m) |
| Islands | 3 |
Three Island Lake is a beautiful, small lake high up in the mountains of Idaho, in the United States. It's known as an alpine lake because it's found at a very high elevation. This special lake is located in Boise County, within the stunning Sawtooth Mountains. It's also part of a big, protected area called the Sawtooth National Recreation Area.
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Discovering Three Island Lake
Three Island Lake is a small, clear lake nestled high in the Sawtooth Mountains of central Idaho. It's a perfect example of an alpine lake, which means it's located at a very high elevation, often above the tree line. The lake gets its name from the three small islands that can be seen within its waters.
Where is Three Island Lake?
This beautiful lake is found in Boise County, Idaho. It's part of the larger Sawtooth National Recreation Area, which is a huge area set aside for nature and outdoor activities. The lake is also inside the Sawtooth Wilderness, a special part of the recreation area where the land is kept as wild as possible, with very few human changes.
How was the lake formed?
Three Island Lake is a glacial lake. This means it was formed thousands of years ago by giant sheets of ice called glaciers. As these glaciers moved slowly across the land, they carved out deep hollows and valleys. When the glaciers melted, these hollows filled with water, creating lakes like Three Island Lake. The water in glacial lakes is often very clear and cold.
Exploring the area around the lake
To reach Three Island Lake, people usually hike along Sawtooth National Forest trail 462. Because the lake is in the Sawtooth Wilderness, visitors need to get a special permit. These permits help protect the wilderness by keeping track of how many people visit and making sure everyone follows rules to keep the area clean and natural. You can usually find these permits at boxes located at the start of hiking trails or at the wilderness boundaries.
There are other interesting lakes nearby too. Benedict Lake is located downstream from Three Island Lake, meaning water from Three Island Lake flows into it. Just over a nearby pass to the southeast, you can find Low Pass Lake. These lakes are all connected by the natural flow of water through the mountains.
