Flathead Lake

Flathead Lake Facts

• The somewhat unusual term of Flathead Lake serves as the most frequently used designation for this marvel of geological processes. For the moment, though, this remarkable formation has no other generally accepted label in the english language.
• The beautiful body of water does have other monikers in different languages, however. In the native tongue of local Indigenous Peoples it holds several, in fact. The Salish know it as člq̓etkʷ, while the Kutenai refer to the lake by the term yawuʔnik̓ ʔa·kuq̓nuk.
• Regardless of what one chooses to call it, though, the lake remains a breathtaking site. Despite the presence of a hydroelectric dam, great care continues to be taken to maintain its state. Due to this, it ranks as one of the cleanest lakes of its size on earth.
• The native inhabitants of the region long knew of and appreciated its existence, of course. Vague records indicate that the first known outsider to learn of it was surveyor Peter Fidler. It’s believed he made the discovery some time between 1790 – 1797.
• Fortunately, the magnificent Flathead Lake continues to enjoy a comparatively high level of protection from the depredations of man. That’s largely true since local Native American populations still maintain a high degree of involvement in its protection.
• Since 2015, a coalition consisting of several local tribes own and operate the hydroelectric facility. They put extreme standards in place. Groups of the same tribes also preserve and protect a special reserve established in 1991 for the majstic Bald Eagle.

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Flathead Lake Physical Description

The stunning Flathead Lake typically captivates those fortunate enough to visit the site. Unlike some similar features located around the world, however, it does so for several reasons. That’s because it’s not just beautiful, it also boasts highly respectable dimensions.

As a general principle, the wonder of Nature possesses a rectangular shape. Several somewhat elongated protrusions from the main body do exist, though. The body of water additionally displays an extremely irregular outline, greatly increasing its actual shoreline.

In length, the amazing body of water measures approximately 30 mi (48 km). Its overall width, however, equals roughly 16 mi (26 km). These statistics provide it with an impressive surface area. This aspect of the visual marvel stands at about 197 sq mi (510 sq km).

Yet, the impressiveness of Flathead Lake doesn’t end there. That’s true since the spectacle also holds other surprising aspects. That pertains to its depth. Its maximum known depth reaches 370.7 ft (113 m). The average level also stands out, at about 164.7 ft (50.2 m).

Nature still isn’t finished with this location, though. Situated within its confines, a total of a dozen small islands also exist. Combined, these contain a total surface area of 5.5 sq mi (14 sq km). The largest, named Wild Horse Island, comprises 3.4 sq mi (8.8 sq km) of this total.

Flathead Lake Location, Formation, and Ecology

The eye-catching beauty of Flathead Lake formed in a broader region of the world already renowned for its abundance of geological wonders. In fact, that area likely won’t surprise many people. That’s because it lies within the boundaries of the continent of North America.

Inside of those confines, however, Nature created it inside the borders of the United States. Its general placement further puts it in the northwest limits of the state of Montana. The organization of the country also places the state itself in the western part of the nation.

Much like many similar features, this attention-grabbing lake formed due to glacial activity during the last ice age. Estimates therefore place the creation of the base in which the water now sits at roughly somewhere between the period of 12,800 – 11,550 years ago.

Multiple events subsequently created the site as it exists today. As the original glacier receded, a portion remained in the region longer than others, due to the local landscape. The melting of that portion of the ice sheet eventually served as the origin of the present lake.

Like many lakes of its size, gorgeous Flathead Lake serves as the base of a flourishing ecosystem. In itself, it serves as home to a wide variety of life. This includes numerous native fish species, such as bull trout. Due to stocking activities, other, non-native fish also appear.

Yet, the list of species it supports continues. Numerous insects make their home there, as well. Many mammals, such as the river otter, also make use of it, both for drinking and for food. Several varieties of birds additionally depend on it for part of their survival.

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