Thurston Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thurston Lake |
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 Thurston Lake
Location in California
Thurston Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Lake County, California |
| Coordinates | 38°55′43.8″N 122°40′17.2″W / 38.928833°N 122.671444°W |
| Type | lake |
| Surface elevation | 1,388 feet (423 m) |
Thurston Lake is a small lake located in Northern California. It sits right next to a much bigger lake called Clear Lake. You can find Thurston Lake on the southeast side of Clear Lake, in an area known as Lake County, California.
How Was Thurston Lake Formed?
Long, long ago, powerful volcanoes were active in this region. As these volcanoes erupted, they left behind special rocks and ash called volcanic deposits. Over time, these deposits built up and created a natural ridge, like a low wall. This ridge formed a barrier that separated Thurston Lake from the larger Clear Lake. So, Thurston Lake was created because of ancient volcanic activity!
Why Is Thurston Lake's Water Cloudy?
Thurston Lake is known for its cloudy or "turbid" water. Turbid means the water isn't clear; it looks murky or hazy. This cloudiness happens because of something called "clayey runoff" from a nearby area known as Manning Flat.
- What is runoff? Runoff is water from rain or melting snow that flows over the land.
- What is clayey runoff? In this case, the runoff picks up tiny bits of clay from the soil in Manning Flat. Clay is a very fine type of earth.
- How does it make the lake cloudy? When this clay-filled water flows into Thurston Lake, the tiny clay particles mix with the lake water. These particles are so small that they stay suspended in the water, making it look cloudy instead of clear.
