Lake Chelan
Encyclopedia
Lake Chelan is a narrow, 55-mile-long lake
in Chelan County, northern Washington state, U.S.
It is the largest natural lake in Washington state. The name Chelan is a Salish
Indian word Tsi - Laan, meaning deep water.
Fed by streams from the Cascade Range
, Lake Chelan has maximum depth of 1486 ft (453 m) (though some sources cite 1,420 feet), making it the third deepest lake in the country and the 24th deepest in the world. The surface of the lake is 1,098 feet (335 m) above sea level, while the average width of the lake is one mile.
The city of Chelan
sits at the southeast tip of the lake, where its water flows into the Chelan River
through the hydroelectric Lake Chelan Dam
. At the northwest end of the lake is the town of Stehekin
, where the town's namesake river, the Stehekin River
, flows into the lake. The Stehekin is the lake's largest inflow stream. Access to the far end of the lake is limited to boat, float plane, or hiking. Lake Chelan State Park
lies along the southern shore of the lake, and can be accessed from the city of Chelan by road. The northern portion of the lake is protected by Lake Chelan National Recreation Area
.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in Chelan County, northern Washington state, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
It is the largest natural lake in Washington state. The name Chelan is a Salish
Salishan languages
The Salishan languages are a group of languages of the Pacific Northwest...
Indian word Tsi - Laan, meaning deep water.
Fed by streams from the Cascade Range
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
, Lake Chelan has maximum depth of 1486 ft (453 m) (though some sources cite 1,420 feet), making it the third deepest lake in the country and the 24th deepest in the world. The surface of the lake is 1,098 feet (335 m) above sea level, while the average width of the lake is one mile.
The city of Chelan
Chelan, Washington
Chelan is a city in Chelan County, Washington, United States. The population was 3,890 at the 2010 census. It sits on the southeast tip of Lake Chelan, where the lake flows into the Chelan River....
sits at the southeast tip of the lake, where its water flows into the Chelan River
Chelan River
The Chelan River is a tributary of the Columbia River, in the U.S. state of Washington. Just long, it is the shortest river in Washington. Lake Chelan Dam is located at the river's source: the outlet of Lake Chelan. Nearly the entire river's flow is diverted to the Lake Chelan Powerhouse, ...
through the hydroelectric Lake Chelan Dam
Lake Chelan Dam
Lake Chelan Dam officially known as the Lake Chelan Hydroelectric Project is located approximately 32 miles north of the city of Wenatchee in Chelan County, near the geographic center of Washington state. The dam is located at the lower or southeasterly end of 55 miles long Lake Chelan, and is...
. At the northwest end of the lake is the town of Stehekin
Stehekin, Washington
Stehekin is a small unincorporated community in Chelan County, Washington. It is part of Wenatchee–East Wenatchee Metropolitan Statistical Area. Located at the northwest end of Lake Chelan, it lies just south of the North Cascades National Park at . It is within Lake Chelan National...
, where the town's namesake river, the Stehekin River
Stehekin River
The Stehekin River is a river located in Washington state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. It is the main river flowing into Lake Chelan. Miners arrived in Stehekin River Valley in the late 19th century. They were followed by homesteaders in the early 20th century...
, flows into the lake. The Stehekin is the lake's largest inflow stream. Access to the far end of the lake is limited to boat, float plane, or hiking. Lake Chelan State Park
Lake Chelan State Park
Lake Chelan State Park is a campground located along the scenic and popular Lake Chelan on the east side of the Cascade Mountains. There are camp sites and multiple water recreation activities, including fishing, boating, and swimming. This park lies in Chelan County, Washington....
lies along the southern shore of the lake, and can be accessed from the city of Chelan by road. The northern portion of the lake is protected by Lake Chelan National Recreation Area
Lake Chelan National Recreation Area
Lake Chelan National Recreation Area is a U.S. National Recreation Area located about south of the Canadian border in Chelan County, Washington. It encompasses an area of approximately including the northern end of Lake Chelan and the surrounding area of the Stehekin Valley and the Stehekin...
.
External links
- National Parks Service Lake Chelan
- University of Washington Libraries Digital Collections – Lawrence Denny Lindsley Photographs Includes 66 images (ca. 1907–1950) of Lake Chelan and nearby settlements.
- Schoolbus plunges into Lake Chelan, killing 15 students and the driver, on November 26, 1945.
- Emily von Jentzen swims Lake Chelan