Mystic Lake (California)
| Mystic Lake | |
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| Location | Riverside County, California |
| Coordinates | 33°52′45″N 117°05′01″W / 33.87917°N 117.08361°WCoordinates: 33°52′45″N 117°05′01″W / 33.87917°N 117.08361°W |
| Type | ephemeral |
| Primary inflows | San Jacinto River |
| Primary outflows | San Jacinto River |
| Basin countries | United States |
Mystic Lake is an ephemeral lake in the San Jacinto Valley of western Riverside County, California. It is located east of Lake Perris, between Moreno Valley and San Jacinto.
The lake lies within the outlet area of the San Jacinto River and is typically full only during late winter and spring when the river is flowing. In recent years, the lake has decreased from thousands of acres to under 200 acres (0.81 km2). If dry conditions persist, experts speculate that the it will dry up altogether, becoming an ephemeral lake. This is a part of a cycle of flooding and receding that the lake has gone through over hundreds and thousands of years.
The Anza Trail passes by the lake, which was described by Juan Bautista de Anza in 1774 as "several leagues in circumference and as full of white geese as water." Anza named it Laguna de Bucareli, after Antonio María de Bucareli y Ursúa, the viceroy of New Spain. Much later, it became known as Mystic Lake.
The lake is adjacent to the 9,000–acre San Jacinto Wildlife Area, which is owned and managed by the California Department of Fish and Game-DFG and open to the public. It features restored wetlands and wildlife habitat. Mystic Lake is a high priority acquisition area for the DFG to add to the Wildlife Area. It is a popular destination for bird-watchers and hunters.
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