Mormon Lake

Mormon Lake
Location Coconino County, Arizona,
United States
Coordinates 34°56′51″N 111°27′18″W / 34.94750°N 111.45500°W / 34.94750; -111.45500Coordinates: 34°56′51″N 111°27′18″W / 34.94750°N 111.45500°W / 34.94750; -111.45500
Basin countries United States
Surface area 600 acres (240 ha)
Average depth 10 ft (3.0 m)
Surface elevation 7,100 ft (2,200 m)
Settlements Mormon Lake Village

Mormon Lake is a shallow, intermittent lake located in northern Arizona. With an average depth of only 10 ft (3.0 m), the surface area of the lake is extremely volatile and fluctuates seasonally. When full, the lake has a surface area of about 12 square miles (31 km2), making it the largest natural lake in Arizona.[1] In particularly dry times, the lake has been known to dry up, leaving behind a remnant marsh.

A small settlement, Mormon Lake Village, was developed during wet years, and many homes have docks that are very far from the shoreline. Mormon Lake Lodge, the main centerpiece of the little town, now relies on a fishing pond located adjacent to the Lodge. The surrounding area, which lies within Coconino National Forest, is part of the largest continuous stand of ponderosa pine in North America,[2] often hosting campers and hikers. The lake itself is occasionally stocked with fish species such as bullhead catfish and northern pike, but due to its intermittent nature it may contain few or no fish following dry seasons.

The name of the lake commemorates Mormon settlers who arrived here in the 1870s and founded several dairy farms in the area, none of which exist any longer.

San Francisco Peaks viewed from the meadows at Mormon Lake, summer monsoon 2010

References

  1. ↑ "Mormon Lake". United States Forest Service. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
  2. ↑ Ponderosa Pine Forests of the Colorado Plateau
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