geo.wikisort.org - Reservoir

Leech Lake is a lake located in north central Minnesota, United States. It is southeast of Bemidji, located mainly within the Leech Lake Indian Reservation, and completely within the Chippewa National Forest. It is used as a reservoir. The lake is the third largest in Minnesota, covering 102,947.83 acres (416.6151 km²) with 195 miles (314 km) of shoreline and has a maximum depth of 156 feet (48 m).[1]

Leech Lake
Lake and Dam
Leech Lake
Location	Chippewa National Forest, Cass County, Minnesota, U.S.
Coordinates	47.155755°N 94.389896°W / 47.155755; -94.389896
Native name	Ozagaskwaajimekaag-zaaga'igan (Ojibwe)
Primary outflows	Leech Lake River
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	102,947.83 acres (41,661.51 ha)
Max. depth	150 ft (46 m)
Shore length1	160.9 sq mi (417 km2)[citation needed]
Settlements	(see article)
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Hydrology

Leech Lake outlets to the Leech Lake River, which flows into the Mississippi River. The sole outlet to the Leech Lake River is controlled by a dam in order to regulate water levels of the lake. Leech Lake has seven major inlets that include Portage Lake Creek, Sucker Creek, Steamboat River, Benedict River, Shingobee River, Bishop Creek, and the Boy River. There are also nine minor inlets that flow into Leech Lake.[2]

Islands

Leech Lake hosts eleven islands that cover a total of 1,617 acres of land.[2] 160 sq miles

The following list is in order from largest to smallest.

• Bear Island
• Minnesota Island
• Pelican Island
• Headquarters Bay Island
• Big Pipe Island
• Goose Island
• Bog (Duck) Island
• Narrows Island
• Little Bear Island
• Little Pelican Island
• Gull Island
• Shingobee Island

The long, narrow Shingobee Bay is part of Leech Lake, and is located on its southern end. Shingobee Bay, and the adjacent Walker Bay, boast some of the deepest parts in the entire lake.

Ecology

Invasive species

• Lythrum salicaria

Also known as purple loosestrife. This is an invasive plant that takes over lake shores and marshes, replacing cattails and other native wetland plants. Purple loosestrife doesn't provide a sufficient food source, nesting area, or cover for the native animals.[3] Also one plant can produce around two million seeds annually, and it spreads rapidly through aquatic systems.[4]

• Typha angustifolia

Better known as the narrow-leaf cattail, this invasive plant is able to grow in deeper water (compared to its native counterparts). The narrow-leaf cattail competes with the native Typha latifolia (broad leaf cattail) and other native plants along Leech Lake.[2]

Aquatic life

Leech Lake is a popular sport fishing hotspot, and is fished for many different types. The state record lake whitefish (12 lb, 4.5 oz) and pumpkinseed (1 lb, 5.6 oz) were both caught here in 1999.[5]

Species of fish the lake contains:

• Black crappie
• Bowfin (dog fish)
• Bluegill
• Brown bullhead
• Catfish
• Eelpout
• Hybrid sunfish
• Largemouth bass
• Muskellunge
• Northern pike
• Pumpkinseed
• Rock bass
• Smallmouth bass
• Tullibee (cisco)
• Walleye
• White sucker
• Yellow bullhead
• Yellow perch
• Jackfish

Vegetation

• Wild rice

Grows in the shallow depths of Leech Lake, emerging through over 4,000 acres of water.[2] Wild Rice is a valuable crop for the Leech Lake community.

• Bulrush

Grass like plants that grow in water, they can reach lengths of around ten feet. These plants are an important food resources for aquatic life in Leech Lake.

Eagles

Leech Lake and the surrounding national forest is home to a large population of bald eagles. They are known to return to their same nests when mature. Populations have risen over the last few decades.

History

On early maps, Leech Lake is identified in French as "lac Sangsue" (Bloodsucker Lake), which was then translated into English to its current name; its French name was translated from the Ojibwe "Ozagaskwaajimekaag-zaaga'igan" (lake abundant with bloodsuckers).[6]

In 1855, the Leech Lake Indian Reservation was established on the south shore of Leech Lake, along with two other Indian Reservations in the area, which along with two additional Indian Reservations, the five Indian Reservations were amalgamated in 1936 to form the current "Greater" Leech Lake Indian Reservation which encompasses most all of Leech Lake.

On October 5, 1898, Leech Lake was the location of a conflict between Ojibwe and Federal troops of the United States, the Battle of Sugar Point.[7] A firefight broke out between the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe after one of the soldiers sent to retrieve a bootlegger mistakenly fired his rifle.[8] Oscar Burkard received the Medal of Honor on August 21, 1899 for his participation in the battle.[9]

In the summer of 1955, Leech Lake became famous for its musky fishing, as the "Leech Lake Musky Rampage" thrust it into the spotlight when hundreds of muskies were caught in a two-week period in July.[10]

Economy

Recreational/leisure use

Every February, Leech Lake is home to the International Eelpout Festival. The eelpout, also known as the Burbot, is rarely seen in Leech Lake, except in the winter when it is very plentiful. Events include a black-tie dinner, ice bowling, and a contest to see who can catch the largest eelpout.

Towns

• Leech Lake Township
• Remer
• Federal Dam
• Whipholt
• Walker
• Onigum

References

External links

• DNR leech lake info
• Leech Lake Tourism Bureau
• Fishing leech lake
• Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) documentation:
  • HAER No. MN-64, "Mississippi River Headwaters Reservoirs, Grand Rapids, Itasca County, MN", 38 data pages about six lakes including this one
  • HAER No. MN-67, "Leech Lake Reservoir Dam, Federal Dam, Cass County, MN", 12 photos, 10 data pages, 2 photo caption pages
  • HAER No. MN-67-A, "Leech Lake Reservoir Dam, Dam Tender's Residence", 15 photos, 4 data pages, 2 photo caption pages

На других языках

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[de] Leech Lake

Der Leech Lake ist ein Stausee im Norden des US-Bundesstaates Minnesota. Er ist der drittgrößte See, der komplett in Minnesota liegt und befindet sich südöstlich von Bemidji im Cass County.

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- [en] Leech Lake

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[es] Lago Leech

El lago Leech (en inglés: Leech Lake) es un lago de Estados Unidos situado en el centro norte del estado de Minnesota. Está al sureste de la ciudad de Bemidji, ubicado principalmente en la reserva india Leech Lake y completamente dentro del bosque nacional Chippewa. Con una superficie de 416,61 km², es el tercer lago más grande de Minnesota y el 26.º del país; tiene 314 km de costa y una profundidad máxima de 48 m.[1] Se utiliza como embalse, ya que tiene regulado su nivel mediante una presa.

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[fr] Lac Leech

Le lac Leech ou lac Sangsue est situé dans la Forêt nationale Chippewa au cœur du Minnesota, aux États-Unis. Il est au sud-ouest de la ville de Bemidji et fait partie de la réserve indienne de Leech Lake. Il est utilisé comme réservoir. Il s'agit du troisième plus grand lac du Minnesota avec 451 km2 de superficie, et il a une profondeur maximale de 46 mètres.

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[ru] Лич-Лейк (водохранилище)

Лич-Лейк (англ. Leech Lake) — водохранилище в США, штат Миннесота. Находится на территории индейской резервации народа оджибве Лич-Лейк.

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