Christmas Lake
Encyclopedia
Christmas Lake is a spring-fed lake covering approximately 265 acres (1.1 km²) in the western Minneapolis suburbs of Shorewood
and Chanhassen
. The lake is crossed by the border of Hennepin
and Carver
counties, with most of the area lying within the jurisdiction of the former. Christmas Lake is known for its exceptional water clarity, the best in the Minneapolis metropolitan area, with a DNR reported clarity level of 20 feet (6.1 m). This clarity can be attributed to the fact that Christmas Lake is a spring fed lake with a sand
y bottom. Although relatively small in area, Christmas Lake becomes very deep very quickly, with a maximum depth of 87 ft (27 m), forming the basin of a depression that extends all along the rim of the lake and is known as the Ridge. The steep nature of the shoreline means that many houses are built far above the lake, and have railed motorized carts to provide access to the docks at the water level.
Although Christmas Lake is located very near to the much larger and more populated Lake Minnetonka
, the lake culture is much different, with fewer powerboat
s and jetskis, although this is slowly changing. Christmas Lake is connected to Lake Minnetonka by an underground canal
which can be used to raise the water level of Lake Minnetonka during droughts. Christmas Lake is home to a number of native and introduced species of fish
, the most prevalent of which are largemouth bass
, bluegill
and pumpkinseed sunfish
, crappie
, northern pike
, carp
, and rainbow trout
. However, due to the small size of the lake, the fish (with the exception of carp) do not generally grow to large sizes. Some fish consumption guideline restrictions have been placed on the lake's bluegill, carp, northern pike, and white sucker due to mercury contamination.
Christmas Lake falls under the jurisdiction of the city of Shorewood, Minnesota
, although much informal control is maintained by the closeknit community of homeowners, under the aegis of the Christmas Lake Homeowners Association. Neighbors organize an annual Fourth of July boat parade, where boatowners turn their boats into water-borne floats, and parade from dock to dock along the shoreline.
The lake is named for Charles W. Christmas, first county surveyor of Hennepin County, who platted the original town site of Minneapolis for John H. Stevens and Franklin Steele.
Shorewood, Minnesota
Shorewood is a settlement on Lake Minnetonka in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 7,307 at the 2010 census. The city was incorporated in 1956. Its area was originally part of the larger Excelsior Township as were the nearby cities of Excelsior, Tonka Bay and Deephaven...
and Chanhassen
Chanhassen, Minnesota
Chanhassen is a city in Carver and Hennepin counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is southwest of Minneapolis. The population was 22,952 at the 2010 census....
. The lake is crossed by the border of Hennepin
Hennepin County, Minnesota
Hennepin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota, named in honor of the 17th-century explorer Father Louis Hennepin. As of 2010 the population was 1,152,425. Its county seat is Minneapolis. It is by far the most populous county in Minnesota; more than one in five Minnesotans live...
and Carver
Carver County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 70,205 people, 24,356 households, and 18,778 families residing in the county. The population density was 197 people per square mile . There were 24,883 housing units at an average density of 70 per square mile...
counties, with most of the area lying within the jurisdiction of the former. Christmas Lake is known for its exceptional water clarity, the best in the Minneapolis metropolitan area, with a DNR reported clarity level of 20 feet (6.1 m). This clarity can be attributed to the fact that Christmas Lake is a spring fed lake with a sand
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
y bottom. Although relatively small in area, Christmas Lake becomes very deep very quickly, with a maximum depth of 87 ft (27 m), forming the basin of a depression that extends all along the rim of the lake and is known as the Ridge. The steep nature of the shoreline means that many houses are built far above the lake, and have railed motorized carts to provide access to the docks at the water level.
Although Christmas Lake is located very near to the much larger and more populated Lake Minnetonka
Lake Minnetonka
Lake Minnetonka is a lake in the U.S. state of Minnesota. Throughout its recorded history, the lake has been a resort destination. It is located west-southwest of Minneapolis-St. Paul. The lake is an irregular shape with numerous bays and islands which make up about of shoreline...
, the lake culture is much different, with fewer powerboat
Powerboat
A powerboat is another name for a motorboat. Powerboat may also refer to:* Powerboating* F1 Powerboat World Championship* Offshore powerboat racing...
s and jetskis, although this is slowly changing. Christmas Lake is connected to Lake Minnetonka by an underground canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
which can be used to raise the water level of Lake Minnetonka during droughts. Christmas Lake is home to a number of native and introduced species of fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
, the most prevalent of which are largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
The largemouth bass is a species of black bass in the sunfish family native to North America . It is also known as widemouth bass, bigmouth, black bass, bucketmouth, Potter's fish, Florida bass, Florida largemouth, green bass, green trout, linesides, Oswego bass, southern largemouth...
, bluegill
Bluegill
The Bluegill is a species of freshwater fish sometimes referred to as bream, brim, or copper nose. It is a member of the sunfish family Centrarchidae of the order Perciformes.-Range and distribution:...
and pumpkinseed sunfish
Pumpkinseed
The pumpkinseed sunfish is a freshwater fish of the sunfish family of order Perciformes. It is also referred to as "pond perch", "common sunfish", "punkys", and "sunny".-Range and distribution:...
, crappie
Crappie
Crappie is a genus of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of order Perciformes. The type species is P. annularis, the white crappie...
, northern pike
Northern Pike
The northern pike , is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...
, carp
Carp
Carp are various species of oily freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. The cypriniformes are traditionally grouped with the Characiformes, Siluriformes and Gymnotiformes to create the superorder Ostariophysi, since these groups have certain...
, and rainbow trout
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
. However, due to the small size of the lake, the fish (with the exception of carp) do not generally grow to large sizes. Some fish consumption guideline restrictions have been placed on the lake's bluegill, carp, northern pike, and white sucker due to mercury contamination.
Christmas Lake falls under the jurisdiction of the city of Shorewood, Minnesota
Shorewood, Minnesota
Shorewood is a settlement on Lake Minnetonka in Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 7,307 at the 2010 census. The city was incorporated in 1956. Its area was originally part of the larger Excelsior Township as were the nearby cities of Excelsior, Tonka Bay and Deephaven...
, although much informal control is maintained by the closeknit community of homeowners, under the aegis of the Christmas Lake Homeowners Association. Neighbors organize an annual Fourth of July boat parade, where boatowners turn their boats into water-borne floats, and parade from dock to dock along the shoreline.
The name