Great Salt Plains Lake
Encyclopedia
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. Great Salt Plains Lake expands across 8690 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.
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.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
located within the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge
Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge
The Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge is part of the United States system of National Wildlife Refuges. It is located in Alfalfa County in northern Oklahoma, north of Jet The Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge is part of the United States system of National Wildlife Refuges. It is located in...
in Alfalfa County
Alfalfa County, Oklahoma
Alfalfa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population is 6,105. Its county seat is Cherokee. Alfalfa County was formed in 1907 from Woods County. The county is named after William H...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
named because of the salt flats in the area and for the Salt Fork Arkansas River
Salt Fork Arkansas River
The Salt Fork of the Arkansas River is a tributary of the Arkansas River in southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma in the United States. Via the Arkansas River, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River.-Course:...
, 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. Great Salt Plains Lake expands across 8690 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.
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.
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