Broken Bow Lake is a reservoir

Reservoir

A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...

 in southeast Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...

, located on Mountain Fork River

Mountain Fork

Mountain Fork, also known as the Mountain Fork of the Little River, is a tributary of the Little River in western Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma in the United States...

 and north of the town of Broken Bow

Broken Bow, Oklahoma

Broken Bow is a city in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 4,230 at the 2000 census. It is named after Broken Bow, Nebraska, the former hometown of the city's founders, the Dierks brothers.-History:...

. It is one of the largest lakes within the state of Oklahoma, and a popular tourist destination for locals and visitors from neighboring Texas

Texas

Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...

.

The lake stretches 22 miles (35 km) back into the Ouachita Mountain

Ouachita Mountains

The Ouachita Mountains are a mountain range in west central Arkansas and southeastern Oklahoma. The range's subterranean roots may extend as far as central Texas, or beyond it to the current location of the Marathon Uplift. Along with the Ozark Mountains, the Ouachita Mountains form the U.S...

 country where its unusual beauty and scenic appeal beckons all sorts of nature enthusiasts. The mountain terrain is densely forested and there are many species of birds native to the area for birdwatchers to enjoy.

History

Points of historical interest located on or near Broken Bow Lake are old Hochatown, inundated by the lake, which was settled by the Choctaw Indians

Choctaw

The Choctaw are a Native American people originally from the Southeastern United States...

 in the early 1830s. Broken Bow, center of the state's timber production, was named by the Dierks brothers, pioneer lumbermen, for their original home of Broken Bow, Nebraska

Broken Bow, Nebraska

Broken Bow is a city in Custer County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 3,491 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Custer County.-History:...

. The Broken Bow post office was established in 1911. Idabel

Idabel, Oklahoma

Idabel is a city in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 7,658 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of McCurtain County. The town is located in the tourist area Kiamichi Country.-History:...

, seat of McCurtain County was first named Pernell, then renamed for the daughters, Ida and Belle, of a Choctaw citizen on whose land the town was built. Built on the site of an old Choctaw settlement, Beavers Bend Resort Park was named after John T. Beavers, a Choctaw intermarried citizen.

Development

Broken Bow Lake was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1958 (approved July 3, 1958 (HD 170, 85th Congress, lst Session)) and another Flood Control Act

Flood Control Act

There are multiple laws known as the Flood Control Act. Typically, they are administered by the United States Army Corps of Engineers:-List of Flood Control Acts:*Flood Control Act of 1917...

 (approved October 23, 1967 (SD 137, 87th Congress, 2nd Session)). The project was designed and built under the supervision of the Department of the Army Tulsa District Corps of Engineers

United States Army Corps of Engineers

The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...

.

Construction began in October 1961, impoundment began in October 1968, and the conservation pool was filled in April 1970. The first power unit was put on line in January 1970, and the second unit in June 1970.

Recreation

Hikers may enjoy two available nature trails; the Big Oak Nature Trail and the Beaver Lodge Nature Trail. The Big Oak trail is about a quarter of a mile long and is suitable for use by senior citizens and small children. The rugged and beautiful Beaver Lodge Nature Trail is a two-way trail located near the River Bend area south of the dam and winds along a clear stream through a valley surrounded by pine-covered hills.

Numerous park areas located around the lake gives visitors an excellent opportunity for outdoor family fun and relaxation. Recreational facilities include boat launching ramps, camping, picnic sites, beaches, water and sanitary facilities. There are two Oklahoma state parks nearby Broken Bow Lake; Beavers Bend Resort Park

Beavers Bend Resort Park

Beavers Bend State Park is a popular Oklahoma state park located in McCurtain County, approximately seven miles north of Broken Bow.-Attractions:...

 and Hochatown State Park

Hochatown State Park

Hochatown State Park is an Oklahoma state park in far-southeastern Oklahoma, north of the city of Broken Bow. It is a popular destination for tourists from Oklahoma and Texas interested in camping or boating on Broken Bow Lake.-Background:...

.

Cedar Creek Golf Course at Beavers Bend

Cedar Creek Golf Course at Beavers Bend

Cedar Creek Golf Course at Beavers Bend is a public golf course on the shores of Broken Bow Lake, about nine miles north of the city of Broken Bow, Oklahoma...

 is another attraction close to the lake, and is easily one of the most scenic golf courses in the state.

The climate at Broken Bow Lake offers outdoor sportsmen excellent opportunities for year-round angling, with various species of trout

Trout

Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...

 and bass

Bass (fish)

Bass is a name shared by many different species of popular gamefish. The term encompasses both freshwater and marine species. All belong to the large order Perciformes, or perch-like fishes, and in fact the word bass comes from Middle English bars, meaning "perch."-Types of basses:*The temperate...

 available.

Hunting on project lands are equally good for hunting enthusiasts, and with the exception of developed areas and certain Game Preserves, all project lands are open to the public for hunting. Deer

Deer

Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...

 are the most important big game species found in the area, though turkey

Turkey (bird)

A turkey is a large bird in the genus Meleagris. One species, Meleagris gallopavo, commonly known as the Wild Turkey, is native to the forests of North America. The domestic turkey is a descendant of this species...

and other sport can be found in this area.

External links

• Broken Bow Lake on Army Corps of Engineers site
• Broken Bow Lake information and photos on TravelOK.com Official Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department website
• Beavers Bend & Hochatown State Park
• Cedar Creek Golf Course at Beavers Bend State Park
• Broken Bow Lake information - Recreational and lodging information guide, including information on fishing, hiking and water sports.