Lake Thompson (South Dakota)
Encyclopedia
Lake Thompson is a lake in Kingsbury County
, South Dakota
, United States
. With an area of 12455 acres (50.4 km²), it is one of the largest natural lakes in South Dakota. The maximum depth of the lake is 26 ft (7.9 m), and the shoreline has a length of 44.6 miles (71.8 km). The lake is located in east-central South Dakota, on the Coteau des Prairies
and is within the watershed of the Vermillion River
.
Lake Thompson's size is highly variable. It was completely dry during the 1930s. By the early 1990s, it had grown to cover (at times) 20000 acres (80.9 km²), becoming the largest natural lake in the state.
The lake is the location of a state recreation area managed by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks which includes camping facilities. Several boat launches are also located on the lake. A popular destination for anglers, game fish in the lake include walleye
, northern pike
, yellow perch
and sunfish
. Common carp
and black bullhead
s are also present.
The area is an important habitat for fish and waterfowl, and Lake Thompson has been named a National Natural Landmark
.
Lake Thompson is near De Smet
, one of the residences of author Laura Ingalls Wilder
, and appears in several of her novels as "Twin Lakes".
Kingsbury County, South Dakota
Kingsbury County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,148. It's county seat is De Smet. It was named for two brothers, George W. and T. A. Kingsbury, who were prominently involved in the affairs of Dakota Territory and members of...
, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. With an area of 12455 acres (50.4 km²), it is one of the largest natural lakes in South Dakota. The maximum depth of the lake is 26 ft (7.9 m), and the shoreline has a length of 44.6 miles (71.8 km). The lake is located in east-central South Dakota, on the Coteau des Prairies
Coteau des Prairies
The Coteau des Prairies is a plateau approximately 200 miles in length and 100 miles in width , rising from the prairie flatlands in eastern South Dakota, southwestern Minnesota, and northwestern Iowa in the United States...
and is within the watershed of the Vermillion River
Vermillion River (South Dakota)
The Vermillion River is a tributary of the Missouri River, long, in eastern South Dakota in the United States.It is formed by the confluence of the East Fork Vermillion River and West Fork Vermillion River. The East Fork, approximately long, rises in Lake Whitewood in Kingsbury County on the...
.
Lake Thompson's size is highly variable. It was completely dry during the 1930s. By the early 1990s, it had grown to cover (at times) 20000 acres (80.9 km²), becoming the largest natural lake in the state.
The lake is the location of a state recreation area managed by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks which includes camping facilities. Several boat launches are also located on the lake. A popular destination for anglers, game fish in the lake include walleye
Walleye
Walleye is a freshwater perciform fish native to most of Canada and to the northern United States. It is a North American close relative of the European pikeperch...
, northern pike
Northern Pike
The northern pike , is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...
, yellow perch
Yellow perch
The yellow perch is a species of perch found in the United States and Canada, where it is often referred to by the shortform perch. Yellow perch look similar to the European perch, but are paler and more yellowish, with less red in the fins. They have six to eight dark, vertical bars on their sides...
and sunfish
Centrarchidae
The sunfishes are a family of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the order Perciformes. The type genus is Centrarchus . The family's 27 species includes many fishes familiar to North Americans, including the rock bass, largemouth bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, and crappies...
. Common carp
Common carp
The Common carp is a widespread freshwater fish of eutrophic waters in lakes and large rivers in Europe and Asia. The wild populations are considered vulnerable to extinction, but the species has also been domesticated and introduced into environments worldwide, and is often considered an invasive...
and black bullhead
Black bullhead
The black bullhead, Ameiurus melas, is a species of bullhead catfish. Like other bullhead catfish, it has the ability to thrive in waters that are low in oxygen, brackish, turbid and/or very warm. It also has barbels located near its mouth, a broad head, spiny fins and no scales...
s are also present.
The area is an important habitat for fish and waterfowl, and Lake Thompson has been named a National Natural Landmark
National Natural Landmark
The National Natural Landmark program recognizes and encourages the conservation of outstanding examples of the natural history of the United States. It is the only natural areas program of national scope that identifies and recognizes the best examples of biological and geological features in...
.
Lake Thompson is near De Smet
De Smet, South Dakota
-External links:* * * * *...
, one of the residences of author Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder was an American author who wrote the Little House series of books based on her childhood in a pioneer family...
, and appears in several of her novels as "Twin Lakes".