Big Stone Lake

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The Big Stone Lake is a long, narrow freshwater lake and reservoir, which forms the border between the western part of the U.S. state of Minnesota and northeastern South Dakota. The lake covers an area of 51 km ² and stretches over a length of 42 km. The average width is less than 2 km. The lake is 294 meters above sea level and is the lowest point in South Dakota. The Big Stone Lake is the source of the Minnesota River, a 534 km long tributary of the Mississippi River. The runoff in the Minnesota River is controlled by a dam at the southern end of the lake. The most important tributary is the Little Minnesota River at its northern end. The lake was formed during the last Ice Age, when the Lake Agassiz overflowed and the glacial River Warren created. In the valley is now home to the Big Stone Lake.

Two state parks border the lake: the Big Stone Lake State Park in Minnesota ( with an information center ) and the Hartford Beach State Park in South Dakota. On the banks there are several hotels. Visitors appreciate the possibilities of angling, particularly glass eye perch, pike and blue sunfish, but the lake contains more than 30 other species. The communities Ortonville and Big Stone City are at the southern end of the lake, while Browns Valley, Minnesota is located on the northern tip.

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  • "Big Stone Lake ". Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Accessed on 19 May 2007.
  • "Big Stone Lake ". United States Department of Transportation. Accessed on 19 May 2007.
  • Big Stone Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. Accessed on 19 May 2007.
  • Spading, Kenton ( January 2000). " Browns Valley Dike " (PDF, 2.3 MB). United States Army Corps of Engineers. Accessed on 19 May 2007.
  • Lake in North America
  • Lake in Minnesota
  • Lake in South Dakota
  • River system Minnesota River
  • Big Stone County
  • Roberts County ( South Dakota)
  • Grant County (South Dakota)
Ortonville (Minnesota) Glacial period United States Environmental Protection Agency
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