Tustumena Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tustumena Lake |
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The lower end of the lake seen from the Kasilof River outflow
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 Tustumena Lake
Location in Alaska
Tustumena Lake
Location in North America
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| Location | Kenai Peninsula, Alaska |
| Coordinates | 60°13′46″N 150°56′28″W / 60.22944°N 150.94111°W |
| Native name | Dusdu Bena Error {{native name checker}}: parameter value is malformed (help) |
| Primary inflows | Glacier Creek, other small streams |
| Primary outflows | Kasilof River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 25 miles (40 km) |
| Max. width | 6 miles (9.7 km) |
| Surface area | 73,000 acres (30,000 ha) |
| Average depth | 80 feet (24 m) |
| Max. depth | 950 feet (290 m) |
| Shore length1 | 71 miles (114 km) |
| Surface elevation | 112 feet (34 m) |
| Islands | Caribou Island |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Tustumena Lake (in the Dena'ina it's called Dusdu Bena) is a large, beautiful lake. It is located in southcentral Alaska. You can find it on the western side of the Kenai Peninsula. This amazing lake is part of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. It is also close to the town of Kasilof. Getting to the lake is a bit of an adventure! You can only reach it by traveling along the Kasilof River. There are no roads that go directly to the lake.
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About Tustumena Lake
Tustumena Lake is a truly impressive body of water. It covers about 73,437 acres. This makes it Alaska's eighth largest lake. It is also the biggest lake on the entire Kenai Peninsula.
How Deep is the Lake?
This lake is incredibly deep! Its deepest point is 950 feet. That's deeper than Cook Inlet, which is a large body of water nearby. The lake itself is about 25 miles (40 km) long. It can be up to 6 miles (9.7 km) wide.
Water Sources and Outflow
The lake gets its water from several places. One main source is the Tustumena Glacier. Many smaller creeks also flow into the lake. The water then flows out of the lake. This outflow forms the very beginning of the Kasilof River. This river then flows all the way to the ocean.
Fun Activities and Wildlife
The area around Tustumena Lake is very popular. People enjoy hunting for game animals here. It is also famous for the Tustumena 200 Sled Dog Race. This is an exciting race that happens every year. Most of the land around the lake is protected. It is part of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge helps protect the animals and nature.
Staying Safe on the Lake
Tustumena Lake is known for its strong winds. These winds often blow off the Tustumena Glacier. Because of this, the lake can be very dangerous for small boats. It's important to be careful and check the weather before going out on the water.
Lake History
Tustumena Lake has an interesting past. Early Russian explorers came to this area long ago. They thought that Tustumena Lake and Skilak Lake were actually one big lake. They were mistaken!
Early Hunters and Guides
In the 1890s, some of the first trophy hunters visited the lake. They found world-record moose on the north shore. This area was also home to the very first hunting guide. This guide received a special license to lead hunters in the State of Alaska.
