Lake Elsinore (lake)
| Lake Elsinore | ||
|---|---|---|
|
||
| Shore of the lake | ||
| Geographical location | Riverside County , California , USA | |
| Tributaries | San Jacinto River , Leach Canyon, McVicker Canyon | |
| Drain | Temescal Creek | |
| Places on the shore | Lake Elsinore , Lakeland Village | |
| Data | ||
| Coordinates | 33 ° 39 '33 " N , 117 ° 20' 57" W | |
|
||
| Altitude above sea level | 379 m | |
| surface | 12.1 km² | |
| length | 9.7 km | |
| width | 2.4 km | |
| volume | 51,400,000 m³ | |
| scope | 23 km | |
| Maximum depth | 13 m | |
| Middle deep | 8.2 m | |
| Catchment area | 1900 km² | |
The Lake Elsinore is a natural freshwater lake in Riverside County in the US state of California , on the edge of the Santa Ana Mountains . Its main tributary is the San Jacinto River .
The lake was originally called Laguna Grande by the Spanish conquerors before it was named Lake Elsinore after the coastal town of Elsinore . The city, in turn, is now named Lake Elsinore itself after the lake.
geography
Lake Elsinore is the largest freshwater lake in Southern California . It lies at the lowest point in the 1900 km² catchment area of the San Jacinto River , which flows into Lake Elsinore.
Politically, Lake Elsinore is part of Riverside County, California . With the town of the same name, Lake Elsinore and Lakeland Village, the lake has two waterfront towns.
Limnology
Located at an altitude of 379 m, the lake normally fills 12.1 km². However, the level can fluctuate greatly due to flooding and dry periods; so the Lake Elsinore can cover 14 km² under given conditions. Usually the lake measures 9.7 km in length and 2.4 km in width. The circumference is 23 km. The lake holds an average of 51,400,000 m³ of water. Its maximum depth is 13 m.
The Temescal Creek leads out of the lake . When the water level is higher, the lake drains excess water through it. The Temescal Creek flows into the Santa Ana River .
The lake is located in a basin that is delimited to the west and south-west by the Elsinore Mountains , so the lake is an endorheic body of water . In the northwest, its bank borders the foothills of the Elsinore Mountains. From here hills continue to the northeast bank, where the elevations become less. The Lake Elsinore Basin opens at the mouth of the San Jacinto River . However, this basin is cut off from the lake itself by a protective dam, which may only be opened to relieve the lake during extreme floods. The Lake Elsinore Basin forms the extreme northwestern end of the Temecula Valley AVA wine region . The Santa Margarita River , which flows there, is cut off by a small elevation south of the lake.
See also
- Lake Elsinore (seaside town of the same name)