North and South Twin Lakes (Oregon)
Encyclopedia
North and South Twin Lakes are two nearly identical natural lakes in Deschutes County, Oregon
. Both were formed around 20,000 years ago when a rising magma
reservoir reached groundwater
, creating violent steam explosions. Two craters
were formed, later filling with water.
North Twin Lake has an elevation of 4344 feet (1,324.1 m),
while South Twin Lake is 7 feet (2.1 m) lower, at 4337 feet (1,321.9 m).
North is larger, having a surface area of 112 acre (0.45324832 km²), compared to South's 99 acres (400,639.1 m²). North is also deeper, with an average depth of 40 feet (12.2 m), and a maximum depth of 60 feet (18.3 m). South is shallower, with an average depth of 33 feet (10.1 m), and maximum depth of 58 feet (17.7 m).
In 1987, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
poisoned South Twin Lake to remove rough fish
. The lake is stocked
with fingerlings and rainbow trout
. North Twin Lake was illegally stocked with catfish some time before 2008. The largest recorded rainbow trout caught from South Twin Lake weighed over 13.5 lbs. The trout average 10 to 14 in (25.4 to 35.6 cm) long, with 18 inches (45.7 cm) fish common.
The Twin Lakes have surprisingly calm winds compared to other Cascade Lakes
. South Twin Lake is completely tree-lined except for the beach day-use area. Water levels vary little over the season. The lake is rich with weedbeds.
Deschutes County, Oregon
-National protected areas:* Deschutes National Forest * Newberry National Volcanic Monument-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 115,367 people, 45,595 households, and 31,962 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile . There were 54,583...
. Both were formed around 20,000 years ago when a rising magma
Magma
Magma is a mixture of molten rock, volatiles and solids that is found beneath the surface of the Earth, and is expected to exist on other terrestrial planets. Besides molten rock, magma may also contain suspended crystals and dissolved gas and sometimes also gas bubbles. Magma often collects in...
reservoir reached groundwater
Groundwater
Groundwater is water located beneath the ground surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations. A unit of rock or an unconsolidated deposit is called an aquifer when it can yield a usable quantity of water. The depth at which soil pore spaces or fractures and voids in rock...
, creating violent steam explosions. Two craters
Volcanic crater
A volcanic crater is a circular depression in the ground caused by volcanic activity. It is typically a basin, circular in form within which occurs a vent from which magma erupts as gases, lava, and ejecta. A crater can be of large dimensions, and sometimes of great depth...
were formed, later filling with water.
North Twin Lake has an elevation of 4344 feet (1,324.1 m),
while South Twin Lake is 7 feet (2.1 m) lower, at 4337 feet (1,321.9 m).
North is larger, having a surface area of 112 acre (0.45324832 km²), compared to South's 99 acres (400,639.1 m²). North is also deeper, with an average depth of 40 feet (12.2 m), and a maximum depth of 60 feet (18.3 m). South is shallower, with an average depth of 33 feet (10.1 m), and maximum depth of 58 feet (17.7 m).
In 1987, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is an agency of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon responsible for programs protecting Oregon fish and wildlife resources and their habitats....
poisoned South Twin Lake to remove rough fish
Rough fish
Rough fish is a term used by U.S. state agencies and U.S. anglers to describe fish that are less desirable to sport anglers within a limited region. The term usually refers to larger fish species that are not commonly eaten, are too rare to be commonly encountered, or are not sought after by...
. The lake is stocked
Fish stocking
Fish stocking is the practice of raising fish in a hatchery and releasing them into a river, lake, or the ocean to supplement existing populations, or to create a population where none exists...
with fingerlings 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....
. North Twin Lake was illegally stocked with catfish some time before 2008. The largest recorded rainbow trout caught from South Twin Lake weighed over 13.5 lbs. The trout average 10 to 14 in (25.4 to 35.6 cm) long, with 18 inches (45.7 cm) fish common.
The Twin Lakes have surprisingly calm winds compared to other Cascade Lakes
Cascade Lakes
The Cascade Lakes are a collection of lakes in central Oregon in the United States of America. They include Elk Lake, Hosmer Lake, Lava Lake, Cultus Lake, North and South Twin Lakes, as well as Crane Prairie Reservoir....
. South Twin Lake is completely tree-lined except for the beach day-use area. Water levels vary little over the season. The lake is rich with weedbeds.