Wallowa Lake

Wallowa Lake
Wallowa Lake with Chief Joseph Mountain of the Wallowa Mountains in the background
Location of Wallowa Lake in Oregon, USA.
Location of Wallowa Lake in Oregon, USA.
Wallowa Lake
Location of Wallowa Lake in Oregon, USA.
Location of Wallowa Lake in Oregon, USA.
Wallowa Lake
LocationWallowa County, Oregon
Coordinates45°18′32″N 117°12′38″W / 45.30889°N 117.21056°W / 45.30889; -117.21056
TypeNatural, oligotrophic, with dam
Primary inflowsWallowa River
Primary outflowsWallowa River
Catchment area51 square miles (130 km2)
Basin countriesUnited States
Max. length3.5 miles (5.6 km)
Max. width0.75 miles (1.21 km)
Surface area1,508 acres (610 ha)
Average depth161 feet (49 m)
Max. depth299 feet (91 m)
Water volume243,500 acre-feet (300,400,000 m3)
Residence time2.5 years
Shore length18.2 miles (13.2 km)
Surface elevation4,372 ft (1,333 m)
SettlementsJoseph
References[1][2][3]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.
The north end of Wallowa Lake in December.

Wallowa Lake is a ribbon lake 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Joseph, Oregon, United States, at an elevation of 4,372 ft (1,333 m). Impounded by high moraines, it was formed by a series of Pleistocene glaciers. On the south end of the lake is a small community made up of vacation homes, lodging, restaurants, as well as other small businesses. Wallowa Lake has been used for recreation since at least 1880.[4] The Wallowa Lake State Park is at the southern tip of the lake.

  1. ^ Johnson, Daniel M.; Petersen, Richard R.; Lycan, D. Richard; Sweet, James W.; Neuhaus, Mark E.; Schaedel, Andrew L. (1985). Atlas of Oregon Lakes. Corvallis: Oregon State University Press. pp. 140–41. ISBN 0-87071-343-4.
  2. ^ "Atlas of Oregon Lakes: Wallowa Lake (Wallowa County)". Portland State University. 1985–2012. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  3. ^ "Wallowa Lake". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. November 28, 1980. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  4. ^ "Wallowa-Whitman National Forest". Archived from the original on March 21, 2005. Retrieved March 8, 2023.