Great Salt Plains Lake
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| Great Salt Plains Lake | |
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| Aerial view of Great Salt Plains Lake Dam on the Salt Fork Arkansas River | |
| Location | Alfalfa County, Oklahoma |
| Coordinates | 36°44′34.34″N 98°11′18.31″W / 36.7428722°N 98.1884194°WCoordinates: 36°44′34.34″N 98°11′18.31″W / 36.7428722°N 98.1884194°W |
| Lake type | reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States |
Great Salt Plains Lake is a reservoir located within the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma in the United States named because of the salt flats in the area and for the Salt Fork Arkansas River, which is dammed to form the lake.
The lake was created in 1940 along with Ralstin Island which is home to heron, egret and ibis.[1] Great Salt Plains Lake expands across 8,690 acres (35.2 km2), has 41 miles (66 km) of waterfront and is shallow and salty. The average depth of the lake is only 3 feet (1 m) at normal pool. The sodium content of the lake is approximately 50% that of the ocean. The fish vary from catfish, saugeye, sandbass and hybrid striper. On the west edge of the lake, visitors can dig for selenite crystals. These crystals feature an hourglass inclusion which is unique to the Great Salt Plains.[1][2]
Also located along the shores of Great Salt Plains Lake is Great Salt Plains State Park. Recreational opportunities at Great Salt Plains State Park include boating, camping, picnicking, swimming, hiking, mountain biking and exploring. The park has RV and tent sites, comfort stations with showers, cabins, picnic sites, group shelters, swimming beach, playgrounds, boat ramps, fishing dock and equestrian trails.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- ^ DeHaan, Vici, "Great Salt Plains State Park", State parks of the South: America's historic paradise, pg 256
[edit] External links
- Great Salt Plains Lake
- Great Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge
- Great Salt Plains State Park
- Great Salt Plains Lake Area information, photos and video on TravelOK.com Official travel and tourism website for the State of Oklahoma
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