Lake Hamilton and Lake Catherine
Encyclopedia
Lake Hamilton and Lake Catherine are a pair of man-made lakes around Hot Springs, Arkansas
. The two lakes have greatly improved the tourism in Hot Springs. Both Lakes were created by Arkansas Power & Light (now a subsidiary of Entergy
).
near Lake Hamilton, Arkansas
and Hot Springs, Arkansas. It is located on the Ouachita River
, one of Arkansas's most popular rivers. It is formed from Carpenter Dam which was named after Flavius Josephus Carpenter
. Along with Lake Catherine and Lake Ouachita, it is one of the lakes that helps make Hot Springs a boon for tourism. The lake was created in 1932, mainly to generate hydroelectricity
, but now it also serves as a recreational getaway. Much of the lake is surrounded with resorts, restaurants, and motels. Parasailing, boating, fishing, and waterskiing are popular on Lake Hamilton, and the rest of the lakes around Hot Springs. A 400 passenger riverboat called the Belle of Hot Springs offers cruises on Lake Hamilton. Garvan Woodland Gardens
, a 210 acres (85 ha) botanical park is also accessible by boat.
On May 2, 1999, an accident involving the tourist boats on Lake Hamilton resulted in the deaths of thirteen persons. Former State Senator Jim Keet
, the 2010 Republican
gubernatorial nominee, was boating with his family at the time of the tragedy. Ironically, four years earlier, Senator Keet had co-sponsored a bill that added several new water safety rules to the Arkansas code, including the requirement that children wear life preservers on most boats. However, the provision did not apply to duck boats, the kind involved in the tragedy, which sank with barely thirty seconds of warning.
near Hot Springs. Lake Catherine State Park is located on the lake's shore. The state park contains 18 cabins. Lake Catherine was created in the 1920s with the building of Remmel Dam. Remmel Dam was created to provide hydroelectricity, but recreation came as a result of lake's location next to Hot Springs.
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs is the 10th most populous city in the U.S. state of Arkansas, the county seat of Garland County, and the principal city of the Hot Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area encompassing all of Garland County...
. The two lakes have greatly improved the tourism in Hot Springs. Both Lakes were created by Arkansas Power & Light (now a subsidiary of Entergy
Entergy
Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. It is headquartered in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana.-History:...
).
Lake Hamilton
Lake Hamilton is a 7200 acres (2,913.7 ha) reservoirReservoir
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...
near Lake Hamilton, Arkansas
Lake Hamilton, Arkansas
Lake Hamilton is a census-designated place in Garland County, Arkansas, United States. It is part of the 'Hot Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area'. The population was 2,135 at the 2000 census...
and Hot Springs, Arkansas. It is located on the Ouachita River
Ouachita River
The Ouachita River is a river that runs south and east through the U.S. states of Arkansas and Louisiana, joining the Tensas River to form the Black River near Jonesville, Louisiana.-Course:...
, one of Arkansas's most popular rivers. It is formed from Carpenter Dam which was named after Flavius Josephus Carpenter
Flavius Josephus Carpenter
Flavius Josephus Carpenter, born March 24, 1851 in Franklin County, Georgia, died August 2, 1933, at home in Arkadelphia, Clark County, Arkansas, was an American Civil War veteran, steamboat captain, U.S...
. Along with Lake Catherine and Lake Ouachita, it is one of the lakes that helps make Hot Springs a boon for tourism. The lake was created in 1932, mainly to generate hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
, but now it also serves as a recreational getaway. Much of the lake is surrounded with resorts, restaurants, and motels. Parasailing, boating, fishing, and waterskiing are popular on Lake Hamilton, and the rest of the lakes around Hot Springs. A 400 passenger riverboat called the Belle of Hot Springs offers cruises on Lake Hamilton. Garvan Woodland Gardens
Garvan Woodland Gardens
Garvan Woodland Gardens is a 210-acre botanical garden located at 550 Arkridge Road approximately 6 miles from Hot Springs National Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, USA...
, a 210 acres (85 ha) botanical park is also accessible by boat.
On May 2, 1999, an accident involving the tourist boats on Lake Hamilton resulted in the deaths of thirteen persons. Former State Senator Jim Keet
Jim Keet
James Holland Keet, known as Jim Keet , is a restaurant owner in Little Rock, Arkansas, a former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives and the Arkansas State Senate...
, the 2010 Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
gubernatorial nominee, was boating with his family at the time of the tragedy. Ironically, four years earlier, Senator Keet had co-sponsored a bill that added several new water safety rules to the Arkansas code, including the requirement that children wear life preservers on most boats. However, the provision did not apply to duck boats, the kind involved in the tragedy, which sank with barely thirty seconds of warning.
Lake Catherine
Lake Catherine is a small 1940 acres (785.1 ha) lakeLake
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,...
near Hot Springs. Lake Catherine State Park is located on the lake's shore. The state park contains 18 cabins. Lake Catherine was created in the 1920s with the building of Remmel Dam. Remmel Dam was created to provide hydroelectricity, but recreation came as a result of lake's location next to Hot Springs.