Ross Lake (Washington)
| Ross Lake | |
|---|---|
From Desolation Peak (looking south)
|
|
| Location |
Ross Lake National Recreation Area, Whatcom County, Washington, United States; Skagit Valley Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada |
| Coordinates | 48°43′54″N 121°04′02″W / 48.73167°N 121.06722°WCoordinates: 48°43′54″N 121°04′02″W / 48.73167°N 121.06722°W |
| Lake type | reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States, Canada |
| Max. length | 23 mi (37 km) |
| Max. width | 1.5 mi (2.4 km) |
| Max. depth | 540 ft (160 m) |
| Surface elevation | 1,604 ft (489 m) |
| Islands | Cat Island, Tenmile Island, Little Jerusalem Island, Cougar Island |
| Settlements | none |
Ross Lake is a large reservoir in the North Cascade mountains of northern Washington state, United States, and southwestern British Columbia, Canada. The lake runs approximately north-south, is 23 miles (37 km) long, up to 1.5 miles (2.5 km) wide, and the full reservoir elevation is 1,604 feet above sea level (489 m).
The U.S. portion of Ross Lake is in the Ross Lake National Recreation Area. North Cascades National Park is adjacent to the west and south, while the Pasayten Wilderness is east of the lake. In British Columbia the lake is a part of Skagit Valley Provincial Park, and Manning Provincial Park is nearby to the east.
Ross Lake is formed by the impoundment of the Skagit River by Ross Dam, which is operated by Seattle City Light for hydroelectric power generation serving Seattle, Washington, and surrounding areas. After leaving Ross Lake, the Skagit River flows through two more reservoirs before running to Puget Sound.
High peaks surround Ross Lake in all directions, and include Hozomeen Mountain, Ruby Mountain, Desolation Peak, and Jack Mountain, the summit of which is over 7,000 feet above the elevation of the lake. Rivers and creeks flowing into Ross Lake include the upper Skagit River, Hozomeen Creek, Silver Creek, Little Beaver Creek, Arctic Creek, Lightning Creek, Devils Creek, Big Beaver Creek, and Ruby Creek. Most of these creeks originate from glaciers and snowfields high in the North Cascades.
...
Wikipedia