Lake Coeur d'Alene Facts

 

Lake Coeur d’Alene Facts:

• ·     Name was given by French fur trappers impressed by the sharp trading skills of the CdA tribe; their own name for the lake means “those who are found here,” or “the discovered people.”
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• ·      Is a natural but dam-controlled by the Post Falls dam on the Spokane River
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• ·      Is fed by 2 rivers: the CdA and St.Joe with Spokane River as outflow
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• ·      David Thompson is the first recorded European explorer to see the lake in 1807
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• ·      Covers an area of 50 square miles; is 25 miles long and 1-3 miles wide with 109 miles of shoreline.

• ·      Has a surface elevation of 2128’ above sea level
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• ·      Has average depth of 120’; deepest “hole” is 220’ (south of Driftwood Point)
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• ·      Several celebrities have homes on Lake CdA: Kim Kardashian, George Clooney, Matt Mc Conaugey for some.
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• ·      Most expensive home/property is the 18 acre, $27.5million place on Windy Bay
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• ·      Typical summer temperatures: The lake's average summer surface temperature (June through August) is 67.5°F. 
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• ·      Swimming temperature: Many people find water temperatures between 70°F and 78°F comfortable for swimming; peak temp is 76o in mid-August.

L    Lake Coeur d'Alene has several "sister lakes" in the Northern Idaho panhandle. These include Hayden Lake, Pend Oreille and others. All are clear, deep and mostly cold. 

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