Lake Accotink 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 North Springfield

North Springfield, Virginia

North Springfield is a census-designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The population was 9,173 at the 2000census.-Geography:North Springfield is located at ....

 in Fairfax County

Fairfax County, Virginia

Fairfax County is a county in Virginia, in the United States. Per the 2010 Census, the population of the county is 1,081,726, making it the most populous jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with 13.5% of Virginia's population...

, Virginia

Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...

, USA. Lake Accotink is formed by the damming of Accotink Creek

Accotink Creek

Accotink Creek is a tributary stream of the Potomac River in Fairfax County, Virginia, in the United States. At Springfield, Accotink Creek is dammed to create Lake Accotink. The stream empties into the Potomac at Gunston Cove's Accotink Bay, to the west of Fort Belvoir.-External links:**...

. The lake is surrounded by Lake Accotink Park.

The lake

The lake is 55 acres, and the whole park is 493. The primary inflow and outflow is Accotink Creek. On one side is a dam. Nearby a railroad track crosses overhead. During 2010, the dam went under construction. Boat rentals had to be suspended during that time.

Recreation

The park has canoes, paddle boats, and row boats available for rent. You can also ride tourboats. Other visitors come to walk or run the 3.75 miles (6 km) trail loop around the lake. Benches dot the trail. Other trails extend beyond Lake Accotink and connect to Lake Braddock where more running trails or a separate mountain biking trail can be found. A miniature golf course is near the antique carousel. At the ticket booth, bike rentals are available. Gas-powered motorboats are not allowed on the lake.

Services

At the snack bar/boathouse you can purchase chips, drinks, and other snacks. Pavilions can be reserved for parties or other special occasions. Kids might enjoy the antique carousel which runs during the summer, or the playground near the pavilions. Close to the playground are picnic areas with grills. A wide range of summer camps are available during the summer.

Wildlife

Lake Accotink hosts a great variety of wildlife. Waterfowl such as Great Blue Herons, ducks, and Canadian geese float on the water. Birds like seagulls and robins soar the skies. You should see red foxes and white-tailed deer drinking from streams. And beaver dams are common along the edges of the lake. Snakes, toads, and frogs are often hiding in logs and under rocks. If you look closely, you might also see fish and turtles swimming around. Butterflies abound in the spring.

External links

• Farifax County Park Authority, Lake Accotink