Clear Lake (Iowa)
Encyclopedia
Clear Lake is the name of a natural body of water located in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
near Clear Lake, Iowa
. It is approximately 3684 acres (15 km²) in size. It is a popular fishing destination, with walleye
, bullhead
, yellow bass
and channel catfish
. People from Des Moines
and Minneapolis – Saint Paul have had homes on the shores of the lake since the 1870s. The average depth is 10 feet (3 m) and the maximum depth is 30 feet (9 m), in the dredged area of the west end. The lake has 13.6 mi (22 km) of shoreline. Clear Lake State Park is located on the shores of the lake. As of 2004, the lake has seen major efforts undergone to restore its natural clarity, including filtration systems, dredging, and education of local farmers to reduce toxic pesticides from entering the lake.
Clear Lake is home to the Clear Lake Yacht Club, a sailing
club in downtown Clear Lake, Iowa
. Many members race and equally informally cruise the large lake. Each weekend between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the course is set on the main basin of the lake and boats can be seen racing for miles. Another sailing main stay, is the Cougar Bay beach. The 250 feet (76.2 m) beach is home to 60 to 100 Hobie Catamaran sailboats during the summer months. Clear Lake is the highest point in Cerro Gordo County
, making wind always common on the water, and therefore a sailor's paradise.
Clear Lake has been named the "Best Iowa Lake Town" by The Des Moines Register and "A Top Vacation Spot" by Midwest Living magazine. There are several notable communities located on the lakefront, including Bell Harbor, and Dodge's Point, both are locations of summer estates for several notable families. Two other notable communities on the waterfront include The Venetian Village and The Harborage. Both of these sit on man made canals and harbors on the northern shore of the lake. The small town of Ventura
sits on the northwestern basin of the lake. A hotel was located on Woodford Island until a fire leveled it in the 1930s.
Clear Lake is dotted with several different landmarks for orientation on the water. Woodford Island is often visible from every point on the lake, making it a navigational aid. Other landmarks include the Clear Lake State Park beach and nearby Cougar Bay beach on the southern shores, with the City of Clear Lake beach and seawall and water tower serving as navigational aids on the northern banks. The Strait of Ventura leading from the main basin to the section of the lake surrounding Ventura is also a major landmark, along with nearby "Farmer's Beach".
Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 44,151 in the county, with a population density of . There were 22,163 housing units, of which 19,350 were occupied.-2000 census:...
near Clear Lake, Iowa
Clear Lake, Iowa
Clear Lake is a city in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 8,161 at the 2000 census. The city is named for the large lake on which it is located. It is the home of a number of marinas, state parks and tourism-related businesses. Clear Lake is also a major stop on Interstate...
. It is approximately 3684 acres (15 km²) in size. It is a popular fishing destination, with walleye
Walleye
Walleye is a freshwater perciform fish native to most of Canada and to the northern United States. It is a North American close relative of the European pikeperch...
, bullhead
Bullhead
-Fishes:* Certain sculpins, including:** European bullhead, Cottus gobio** Siberian bullhead, Cottus poecilopus** Norway bullhead, Taurulus Liljeborgi* Catfish of the genus Ameiurus, including:** Black bullhead, Ameiurus melas...
, yellow bass
Yellow bass
The yellow bass or barfish, Morone mississippiensis, is a freshwater fish native to the south and midwestern United States. Though sometimes confused with white bass or striped bass, it is distinguished by its yellow belly and the broken pattern in its lowermost stripes...
and channel catfish
Channel catfish
Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, is North America's most numerous catfish species. It is the official fish of Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Tennessee, and is informally referred to as a "channel cat". In the United States they are the most fished catfish species with approximately 8...
. People from Des Moines
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
and Minneapolis – Saint Paul have had homes on the shores of the lake since the 1870s. The average depth is 10 feet (3 m) and the maximum depth is 30 feet (9 m), in the dredged area of the west end. The lake has 13.6 mi (22 km) of shoreline. Clear Lake State Park is located on the shores of the lake. As of 2004, the lake has seen major efforts undergone to restore its natural clarity, including filtration systems, dredging, and education of local farmers to reduce toxic pesticides from entering the lake.
Clear Lake is home to the Clear Lake Yacht Club, a sailing
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
club in downtown Clear Lake, Iowa
Clear Lake, Iowa
Clear Lake is a city in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 8,161 at the 2000 census. The city is named for the large lake on which it is located. It is the home of a number of marinas, state parks and tourism-related businesses. Clear Lake is also a major stop on Interstate...
. Many members race and equally informally cruise the large lake. Each weekend between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the course is set on the main basin of the lake and boats can be seen racing for miles. Another sailing main stay, is the Cougar Bay beach. The 250 feet (76.2 m) beach is home to 60 to 100 Hobie Catamaran sailboats during the summer months. Clear Lake is the highest point in Cerro Gordo County
Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 44,151 in the county, with a population density of . There were 22,163 housing units, of which 19,350 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, making wind always common on the water, and therefore a sailor's paradise.
Clear Lake has been named the "Best Iowa Lake Town" by The Des Moines Register and "A Top Vacation Spot" by Midwest Living magazine. There are several notable communities located on the lakefront, including Bell Harbor, and Dodge's Point, both are locations of summer estates for several notable families. Two other notable communities on the waterfront include The Venetian Village and The Harborage. Both of these sit on man made canals and harbors on the northern shore of the lake. The small town of Ventura
Ventura, Iowa
Ventura is a city in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 670 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Ventura is located at ....
sits on the northwestern basin of the lake. A hotel was located on Woodford Island until a fire leveled it in the 1930s.
Clear Lake is dotted with several different landmarks for orientation on the water. Woodford Island is often visible from every point on the lake, making it a navigational aid. Other landmarks include the Clear Lake State Park beach and nearby Cougar Bay beach on the southern shores, with the City of Clear Lake beach and seawall and water tower serving as navigational aids on the northern banks. The Strait of Ventura leading from the main basin to the section of the lake surrounding Ventura is also a major landmark, along with nearby "Farmer's Beach".
External links
- Clear Lake General Information from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Clear Lake State Park